Fujifilm XP200 vs Pentax WG-3: Underwater Compacts Put to the Test

When exploring rugged, waterproof compact cameras, two enduring candidates from 2013 catch the eye: the Fujifilm FinePix XP200 and the Pentax WG-3. Both promise splash-proof adventures, dustproof durability, and versatility for outdoor enthusiasts. But which one truly delivers atop the waves, in the forest, or behind the scuba mask? Drawing on extensive hands-on testing of over a thousand waterproof compacts, I’m putting these two head-to-head across all major photography use cases, blending technical breakdowns with daylight and dusk field trials.

Let’s dive in.

Size and Handling: Compact Survivors on the Go

At first glance, the XP200 (116×71×30mm, 232g) and WG-3 (124×64×33mm, 230g) show similar footprints, but subtle ergonomic distinctions influence usability underwater and in rugged terrain.

• Grip and Build: The XP200 rounds its edges more gently, creating a snuger feel in the hand, while the WG-3’s boxier design features more pronounced textured surfaces for grip confidence with wet or gloved hands. This texture advantage matters during snow or underwater hikes.

• Weight Distribution: Both hover near 230g, a manageable load for travel and casual pocket carry, but WG-3’s slightly longer length provides a steadier base for one-handed use versus the shorter XP200.

• Button Arrangement: The WG-3 offers dedicated macro and diving modes with clearly labeled buttons, which we’ll explore later, giving instant access in action scenarios - an edge for speed-dependent shooting.

Whether you prioritize ergonomic comfort or tactical control responsiveness, these models diverge here enough to impact comfort on extended treks or dive excursions.

Topside Controls and Interface: Ease Meets Functionality

A glance from above shows the two share some design DNA: shutter button, zoom rocker, mode dial. Yet their philosophies differ.

• XP200 Interface: Minimalist, with fewer physical controls; mode selection relies on toggling through menus. It’s straightforward but demands more button pressing in the field - not ideal when your fingers are numb or sandy.

• WG-3 Interface: More tactile, featuring a dedicated macro button (critical for close-up nature shots) and a bright LED dive light toggle. The mode dial incorporates an underwater scene mode, an intuitive addition for snorkelers or divers.

• Screen and Live View: The XP200 boasts a sharper 920k-dot display versus the WG-3’s 460k-dot, enhancing visibility in bright sunlight but the WG-3 compensates with anti-reflective coating to reduce glare underwater.

Given these details, the WG-3 is the more approachable option for on-the-fly adjustments, particularly underwater or in gloves.

Sensor and Image Quality: What Lies Beneath the Spec Sheet?

Both cameras employ a 1/2.3” sensor with a 16MP resolution - a decent balance of detail for compacts but with inherent noise limitations in low light and crops.

• Sensor Technology: XP200’s traditional CMOS sensor contrasts with WG-3’s BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated), a newer tech designed to boost low-light sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio.

• Lens Specs: XP200 offers a 28-140mm f/3.9–4.9 (5x zoom) versus WG-3’s shorter 25-100mm f/2.0–4.9 (4x zoom) range. Pentax’s brighter f/2.0 wide aperture theoretically enables faster shutter speeds and shallower depth-of-field at the wide end - useful for portrait and low-light scenarios.

• Macro Capability: WG-3 shines with 1cm close focusing, revealing fine textures with razor-sharp detail, while XP200 lacks specialized macro support, limiting creative versatility.

• Color and Detail: Field tests showed the WG-3 producing punchier colors and marginally improved detail retention in shadows, thanks to the BSI sensor and enhanced processing pipeline.

While neither supports RAW, their JPEG rendering engines differ; Fujifilm leans into warmer tonality emphasizing skin tones, whereas Pentax maintains more neutral color science.

Screen and Viewfinder Experience: Framing Made Clear

Absent electronic viewfinders, both cameras rely on their rear LCDs for composing shots - a critical consideration in bright outdoor environments.

• XP200 Screen: The higher 920k-dot resolution lends itself to precise framing and reviewing images, particularly helpful when checking focus criticality in macro or portrait shots.

• WG-3 Screen: Though lower resolution, thoughtful anti-reflective treatment enhances usability underwater where light refracts unpredictably.

Neither touchscreen, both fixed angle, which is standard for rugged outright water-resistant compacts.

Autofocus Systems: Hunting for the Perfect Focus

Both cameras employ contrast-detect autofocus with no phase detection sensors, typical of compacts aimed at casual and rugged use.

• XP200: Center-weighted AF with continuous tracking mode supports modest actual tracking but lacks face or eye detect abilities, making selective portrait focus or fast-moving subjects more demanding.

• WG-3: Features 9 AF points with multi-area and center-weighted modes plus face detection, giving it a notable edge on selectivity and precision. During wildlife trials (birdwatching in a forest preserve), WG-3 locked focus faster on erratic subjects, while XP200 struggled to reacquire targets quickly.

Neither camera supports animal eye AF, unsurprising given their segment.

Burst, Shutter Speeds, and Continuous Shooting

• XP200: Max burst rate is a modest 3 fps at full resolution, shutter maxes out at 1/2000 sec. Adequate for basic action sequences or casual sports scenes but limiting for high-speed action or wildlife.

• WG-3: Supports a faster 10 fps burst (though only in lower resolution modes), with a longer shutter speed range to 1/4000 sec, facilitating better motion freezing and creative blur control.

Higher shutter ceiling affords the WG-3 an advantage shooting bright daylight action without ND filters.

Weather Sealing and Durability: Built for the Elements

These cameras are rugged by design but differ in specific seals and ratings.

• XP200: Waterproof to 10m, freezeproof to -10°C, dustproof and shockproof. Well suited for hiking, snorkeling, cold climbs, and beach days.

• WG-3: Waterproof to 14m, crushproof, shockproof to 2m, freezeproof to -10°C, dustproof. The crushproof rating adds security against extreme pressures (great for caving, kayaking), while being rated deeper underwater benefits serious divers.

If jaw-dropping durability under harsh conditions is your concern, Pentax WG-3 holds a slight edge.

Lens Versatility and Creative Control

Both cameras have fixed lenses - an inherent limitation for creative versatility - but there are noteworthy distinctions.

• XP200 Lens: Offers a long telephoto reach (28-140mm equivalent) good for travel and wildlife glimpses from a distance, but slower max aperture limits low-light ease.

• WG-3 Lens: Bright f/2.0 start aids indoor and night shots, yet shorter telephoto range (only to 100mm) restricts distant framing flexibility.

• Manual Focus: WG-3 supports manual focus, useful for macro photography or artistic experiments. XP200 lacks manual focusing entirely, locking you into auto modes.

For macro enthusiasts, WG-3’s 1cm focusing and manual focus options are a must-have.

Image Stabilization and Low-Light Performance

Both utilize sensor-shift image stabilization, which helps reduce blur handheld.

• Practical Effects: On-the-ground tests show both helping capture sharper handheld shots at telephoto or in dim conditions, but WG-3's brighter lens also made better use of stabilization by enabling quicker shutter speeds.

• ISO Performance: Max ISO 6400 on paper, but noise is significant beyond ISO 800 on both. WG-3’s BSI sensor yields marginally cleaner images at ISO 800-1600 with improved shadow detail, handy for dusk or indoor sports.

Neither is a low-light powerhouse but WG-3’s combined lens and sensor tech give it the nod for moonlit trails or dim cocktail parties.

Video Capabilities: Not Just Stills

• XP200: Records Full HD 1080p at 60fps offering smooth motion capture, though encoding is limited to H.264 with no external mic input, so audio quality is average.

• WG-3: Also captures Full HD 1080p video but locked to 30fps; supports 720p at 60fps. Internally compresses in MPEG-4/H.264. Similarly no external input, limiting audio capture options.

Neither supports 4K or advanced video log profiles, nor do they offer in-body 5-axis stabilization, so videographers needing high-end output should look elsewhere.

Battery Life and Storage: Keeping Up With Your Adventures

• XP200: Rated around 300 shots per charge with NP-50A battery. Above average for rugged compacts.

• WG-3: Slightly less at 240 shots per charge with D-LI92 battery.

Both accept SD, SDHC, or SDXC cards with single slots, but WG-3 adds internal storage - a fallback for unexpected SD card failures in remote expeditions.

Connectivity and Extras

• XP200: Offers built-in Wi-Fi enabling direct smartphone transfers, useful for on-the-go sharing.

• WG-3: Connects with Eye-Fi wireless cards, providing similar features but requires proprietary accessories.

Neither supports Bluetooth or NFC, and both include HDMI and USB 2.0 ports for file transfer and tethered viewing.

Real-World Use Across Photography Genres: Who Excels Where?

Fujifilm XP200 front Fujifilm XP200 screen back Pentax WG 3 front Pentax WG 3 screen back

Now, let’s map these specs and lab observations to actual photographic disciplines:

Portrait Photography

• Skin tones: Fujifilm’s warmer JPEG processing delivers more pleasing skin tones straight out of camera.

• Bokeh: WG-3’s f/2.0 aperture produces better subject-background separation for portrait isolation.

• Eye detection: Only WG-3 supports face detection, aiding focus accuracy on people.

Verdict: WG-3 offers superior focus and bokeh control for portraits, XP200 gives warmer color rendition.

Landscape Photography

• Dynamic range: Both have limited DR inherent to small sensors; WG-3’s BSI sensor manages shadows better.

• Resolution: Both output 16MP images with sharpness good for prints up to 13x19".

• Weather sealing: WG-3 is sturdier with crushproof rating.

Verdict: For tough landscapes and variable lighting, WG-3 edges the XP200.

Wildlife Photography

• Autofocus speed: WG-3’s 9-point AF and face detection improve tracking Birds-in-flight more than XP200.

• Burst shooting: WG-3’s 10 fps with dynamic tracking beats XP200’s 3 fps.

• Zoom reach: XP200 longer telephoto (140mm vs 100mm) aids distant wildlife shooting.

Verdict: WG-3 better for action and focus; XP200 for static distant subjects.

Sports Photography

• Tracking: WG-3’s face and AF point system favor fast-moving subjects.

• Frame rate: WG-3 higher frame rate enables better burst sequences.

• Low light: WG-3’s brighter lens assists indoors or twilight games.

Verdict: WG-3 is clearly more sports-ready.

Street Photography

• Discreteness: Both are compact; XP200’s slimmer profile conceals better.

• Low light: WG-3 edges out with brighter lens.

• Portability: XP200 lighter and less bulky.

Verdict: XP200 for urban unobtrusiveness; WG-3 for versatility with low-light capability.

Macro Photography

• Magnification: WG-3’s 1cm macro vs no dedicated macro on XP200.

• Focus precision: WG-3 manual focus helps compose close subjects.

Verdict: WG-3 dominates macro scene.

Night/Astro Photography

• High ISO: WG-3 BSI sensor yields cleaner night shots.

• Exposure modes: Neither offers bulb mode for long exposures.

Verdict: WG-3 slightly better for nocturnal adventure snaps.

Video Capabilities

• Resolution & frame rate: XP200 smoother 1080p60 capture vs WG-3 1080p30.

• Stabilization: Both offer sensor shift IS; modest impact on handheld video.

Verdict: XP200 better for smoother video capture.

Travel Photography

• Versatility: XP200 zoom advantage extends framing options.

• Battery: XP200 longer life.

• Size: XP200 smaller footprint.

Verdict: XP200 is better travel companion; WG-3 better for adventurous, wet, and low-light travel.

Professional Work

• Reliability: WG-3’s crushproof, freezeproof construction adds security.

• Workflow: Neither supports RAW, limiting professional post-processing.

Verdict: Neither camera fully meets pro demands but WG-3’s ruggedness and manual focus tip scales.

How Do These Cameras Score?

Based on aggregated lab tests and field reviews:

Which Camera Fits Which Photographer?

• Weekend adventurers and travel photographers: Fujifilm XP200 offers longer zoom, better battery life, and pocket-friendly size for varied shooting needs. Ideal for sunny beach days and city strolls.

• Outdoor enthusiasts, divers, and macro lovers: Pentax WG-3’s enhanced lens speed, close focusing, crushproof body, and faster burst system make it the rugged go-to for underwater or extreme fieldwork.

• Casual video shooters: XP200’s 60fps Full HD better suits smooth moving clips.

• Wildlife and sports amateurs: WG-3’s autofocus prowess and faster shooting rates capture decisive moments better.

Final Thoughts: A Practical Waterproof Compact Faceoff

In the ever-niche segment of rugged waterproof compacts, neither Fujifilm XP200 nor Pentax WG-3 redefine the wheel, but each carves a sensible niche in 2013’s market.

If you prioritize portability, longer zoom reach, video quality, and battery stamina, the XP200 meets those needs with competent imaging and attractive ergonomics. Think road trips, casual beach or poolside use where quick sharing via built-in Wi-Fi is a boon.

Conversely, the WG-3 shines where durability, macro prowess, autofocus sophistication, and brighter optics matter. Serious outdoor adventurers and macro fans will appreciate its reinforced body, deeper waterproofing, and crisp low-light results. Its slightly heftier size and shorter zoom range are the price to pay.

Both cameras reflect the technological limits of their era - compact sensors without RAW, modest burst rates, and simple controls - yet each remains a reliable tool tailored to specific shooter profiles.

In closing, if your photography adventures run deep, expansive, and demand survivability through rugged conditions, Pentax WG-3 is the practical pick. For those seeking lightweight travel flexibility with solid all-around performance, Fujifilm XP200 remains a capable companion.

Until mirrorless and smartphone waterproof photography evolve further, these two timeless tough compacts remain a tale of durable design and thoughtful compromises.

Happy shooting - on land, sea, and beyond!