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Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-3

Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Pentax WG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Key Specs

Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Announced August 2012
  • New Model is Canon SX510 HS
Pentax WG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Introduced July 2013
Photography Glossary

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Overview

Below, we are comparing the Canon SX500 IS and Pentax WG-3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Waterproof by brands Canon and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the WG-3 (16MP) is very similar and they feature the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was brought out 11 months prior to the WG-3 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple view of how the SX500 IS matches up vs the WG-3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Pentax WG-3

 SX500 IS WG-3 
Display resolution461k460kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Canon SX500 IS

 WG-3 SX500 IS 
IntroducedJuly 2013August 2012Fresher by 11 months

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Pentax WG-3

 SX500 IS WG-3 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Canon SX500 IS has got outside dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) and 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 SX500 IS and Pentax WG-3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the SX500 IS versus the WG-3.

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX500 IS and WG-3 is 80 and 90 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizing just by reading specs. The photograph here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX500 IS and WG-3.

All in all, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same resolution therefore you can expect similar quality of photos however you have to take the age of the products into consideration. The older SX500 IS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX500 IS
Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3
46
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/1,600s)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
41
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
no manual mode
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Street photography camera
Pentax WG-3 as a Street photography camera
51
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography details
Pentax WG-3 Sports photography details
45
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (195 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery (240 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX500 IS
Travel photography with Pentax WG-3
60
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery (195 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
72
weather proofing
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery (240 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX500 IS
Landscape photography with Pentax WG-3
46
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
terrible battery (195 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
54
manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
not so great battery (240 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Vlogging camera
Pentax WG-3 as a Vlogging camera
28
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic socket
36
fairly wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic support
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Canon SX500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Pentax WG-3
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISPentax WG-3
General Information
Company Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Pentax WG-3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Announced 2012-08-21 2013-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 3.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/1600s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341g (0.75 lb) 230g (0.51 lb)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 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 photographs 240 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $299 $300