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Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax WG-3

Portability
80
Imaging
46
Features
34
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX420 IS front
 
Pentax WG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Key Specs

Canon SX420 IS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-1008mm (F3.5-6.6) lens
  • 325g - 104 x 69 x 85mm
  • Released January 2016
Pentax WG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Launched July 2013
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Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Overview

Below is a extensive analysis of the Canon SX420 IS and Pentax WG-3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Canon and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the SX420 IS (20MP) and WG-3 (16MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX420 IS was brought out 2 years later than the WG-3 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX420 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a thorough comparison, here is a short highlight of how the SX420 IS grades against the WG-3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX420 IS over the Pentax WG-3

 SX420 IS WG-3 
LaunchedJanuary 2016July 2013More recent by 30 months

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Canon SX420 IS

 WG-3 SX420 IS 
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX420 IS and Pentax WG-3

 SX420 IS WG-3 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon SX420 IS features external dimensions of 104mm x 69mm x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-3 has measurements of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX420 IS and Pentax WG-3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. Following is a front view scale comparison of the SX420 IS versus the WG-3.

Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax WG-3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SX420 IS and WG-3 is 80 and 90 respectively.

Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax WG-3 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements only by reading through a spec sheet. The visual underneath might offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX420 IS and WG-3.

Clearly, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Canon SX420 IS to give more detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more recent SX420 IS should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax WG-3 sensor size comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Portrait photography advice
Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography advice
44
focusing manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
41
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX420 IS as a Street photography camera
Pentax WG-3 as a Street photography camera
52
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Sports photography features
Pentax WG-3 Sports photography features
41
amazing zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
low fps (0.5 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (195 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (240 shots)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Travel photography highlights
Pentax WG-3 Travel photography highlights
61
good resolution (20MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
great reach (1008mm)
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (195 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
72
weather sealing
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
bad battery (240 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX420 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
47
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery life (195 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
54
manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
bad battery (240 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Vlogging info
Pentax WG-3 Vlogging info
29
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone port
36
fairly wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone support
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Canon SX420 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX420 IS and Pentax WG-3
 Canon PowerShot SX420 ISPentax WG-3
General Information
Brand Name Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SX420 IS Pentax WG-3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Released 2016-01-05 2013-07-19
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 4+ -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 5152 x 3864 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-6.6 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing range 0cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 0.5fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 3.40 m
Flash settings Auto, flash on, slow synchro, flash off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325 grams (0.72 pounds) 230 grams (0.51 pounds)
Physical dimensions 104 x 69 x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 195 photos 240 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-11LH D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $299 $300