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Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Key Specs

Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Later Model is Canon SX510 HS
Pentax WG-1 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 167g - 116 x 59 x 29mm
  • Released August 2011
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Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Overview

Following is a comprehensive analysis of the Canon SX500 IS and Pentax WG-1 GPS, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Waterproof by competitors Canon and Pentax. The resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the WG-1 GPS (14MP) is fairly similar and they enjoy the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was released 13 months after the WG-1 GPS making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the SX500 IS grades against the WG-1 GPS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Pentax WG-1 GPS

 SX500 IS WG-1 GPS 
ReleasedAugust 2012August 2011More modern by 13 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 GPS over the Canon SX500 IS

 WG-1 GPS SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Pentax WG-1 GPS

 SX500 IS WG-1 GPS 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX500 IS has outer dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-1 GPS has dimensions of 116mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX500 IS and Pentax WG-1 GPS in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the SX500 IS against the WG-1 GPS.

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SX500 IS and WG-1 GPS is 80 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading technical specs. The picture below will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SX500 IS and WG-1 GPS.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can anticipate the Canon SX500 IS to deliver extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images much more aggressively. The newer SX500 IS provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography info
Pentax WG-1 GPS Portrait photography info
46
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/1,600s)
good MP (16MP)
supports face detection focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
35
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX500 IS
Street photography with Pentax WG-1 GPS
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
54
weather proof
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography info
Pentax WG-1 GPS Sports photography info
44
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (195 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
37
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography advice
Pentax WG-1 GPS Travel photography advice
59
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low battery pack (195 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.4)
71
weather proof
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography features
Pentax WG-1 GPS Landscape photography features
46
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery pack (195 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
42
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7")
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Vlogging camera
Pentax WG-1 GPS as a Vlogging camera
28
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
slow max aperture (f3.4)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone socket
25
really wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic jack
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Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Pentax WG-1 GPS
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISPentax Optio WG-1 GPS
General Information
Brand Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Released 2012-08-21 2011-08-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/1600 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 341g (0.75 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 116 x 59 x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 195 photographs 260 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $299 $350