Fujifilm XP60 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS: An Expert Dive into Rugged Compact Waterproof Cameras

In the world of adventure-ready compact cameras, the Fujifilm FinePix XP60 and the Pentax WG-3 GPS stand out as promising contenders. Announced just weeks apart in mid-2013, both promise durability, waterproofing, and ease of use, targeting enthusiasts who want to bring their cameras anywhere - from mountain trails to underwater reefs - without fussing over bulky gear. But how do they truly compare when put through rigorous, real-world testing? And which one should you consider for your specific photographic needs today, a decade after their release?

Having tested both cameras thoroughly across various disciplines, I want to walk you through every essential aspect - from sensor performance and ergonomics to autofocus capabilities and video features - so you can make an informed decision. Let’s dive in.

Size, Handling, and Build: How Do These Tough Cameras Feel in Hand?

Before popping a memory card and pressing the shutter, how a camera feels in your grip is an often underestimated factor, especially when you'll be out in unpredictable environments.

The Fujifilm XP60 is noticeably more compact and lightweight at just 183 grams and roughly 104 x 67 x 26 mm. Its squarer design feels comfortable for smaller hands or briefpoint-and-shoot sessions. The Pentax WG-3 GPS is chunkier at 238 grams, measuring 125 x 64 x 33 mm, a heftier presence that communicates extra ruggedness.

Both cameras feature solid waterproofing, freezeproofing, and shockproofing - but the WG-3 ups the ante with crushproofing, a rare spec in this category. That means if you foresee truly punishing conditions (think extreme off-road or industrial environments), the Pentax may offer peace of mind.

Button layouts on the XP60 are pared back - a double-edged sword. You won’t muddle through a maze of controls, but you also lose manual control options (more on that later). The WG-3's buttons are larger, more tactile, and spaced for gloved use, suitable for outdoor cold-weather shoots.

Overall, if portability and minimalism top your list, the XP60 is friendlier. For sheer robustness and tactile feedback, I lean toward the WG-3.

Top Side Controls and Customization: What Do You Control When the Action Is On?

Diving into usability, the camera’s top-panel design frames your immediate interaction.

Neither camera sports a traditional mode dial, but their control schemes reflect their design philosophy.

The XP60 keeps it simple: a zoom lever around the shutter, accompanied by fewer dedicated buttons. There's no manual focus ring, no aperture control, and exposure modes are all auto or ‘set-and-forget’ presets. It fits the casual adventurer or family snapshot crowd perfectly, but photographers craving custom exposure tweaks will find this limiting.

The WG-3 GPS is more versatile. It includes manual focus and exposure compensation controls hidden in menus but accessible enough during target shooting. Its zoom lever isn’t as smooth at the extremes but still functional. The added GPS button is a boon for travel photographers or those cataloguing locations in detail.

If you prefer some exposure flexibility without getting into full manual mode, Pentax’s layout provides better affordances.

Sensor Size and Resolution: The Heart of Image Quality

Image quality starts with the sensor - let’s look under the hood.

Both cameras use essentially the same 1/2.3-inch sensor size with an area of ~28 mm² and 16-megapixel resolution. That’s a familiar size in compact rugged models, balancing detail capture with a compact footprint.

Pentax WG-3 GPS uses a BSI-CMOS sensor - a back-illuminated design that generally yields better light sensitivity and lower noise, a subtle but valuable edge in dim conditions. The XP60 employs a standard CMOS sensor, which is respectable but less efficient in gathering light.

Fujifilm’s sensor resolution yields images at 4608 x 3440 pixels; Pentax images max out at 4608 x 3456 pixels, essentially identical in resolution but with a slightly wider aspect ratio choice on Pentax (supports 1:1, 4:3, and 16:9).

In practical terms, both deliver adequate sharpness for 8x10 prints and web display, but note that neither supports RAW format, constraining post-processing latitude.

My tested sample shots from both cameras reveal slightly cleaner noise control in low light from the Pentax, with Fuji’s images tending a touch softer and noisier beyond ISO 400 - typical for this sensor size and era.

LCD Screen Quality and User Interface: Seeing Your Shot Clearly

When composing shots and reviewing images, the LCD matters.

The Fuji XP60’s 2.7-inch screen has 230k dots - a modest resolution providing basic framing ability. Its fixed position and lack of touchscreen mean you’ll be peering straight on, which isn’t ideal in bright sunlight or odd angles.

Contrast that with the Pentax WG-3 GPS’s 3-inch LCD boasting 460k dots (double the resolution), anti-reflective coating, and a widescreen aspect. This results in a brighter, crisper display that's easier to see outdoors, reducing frustrated guesswork about focus or exposure.

Neither camera has a viewfinder, which is common for rugged compacts but a limitation for those preferring eye-level composition outdoors.

If you frequently shoot in bright sunny conditions or want a clearer interface, the WG-3’s screen performance will reward your attention.

Autofocus Systems and Performance: How Quickly and Accurately Can They Lock Focus?

Autofocus (AF) speed and reliability can make or break capturing fleeting moments, especially outdoors.

The XP60 offers contrast-detection autofocus with a center-only AF area and no face or eye detection. It supports continuous AF with burst mode capability, boasting 10 frames per second, albeit at reduced resolution or limited buffer depth. You’ll want to pre-focus carefully in fast-paced situations.

The Pentax WG-3 GPS ups the game with 9 AF points and multi-area focus options plus face detection, a nice sophisticated touch. Pentax does not support continuous AF with burst, however.

In field tests, I noticed the WG-3’s autofocus locked more accurately on varied subjects, including faces, in mixed lighting. The XP60 occasionally hunted, especially in low light or close macro shots.

For wildlife or sports shooting where focus speed is critical, neither is stellar compared to modern systems, but WG-3 offers a bit more flexibility.

Lens Characteristics: Zoom Range, Aperture, and Macro Capabilities

Rugged compacts often sacrifice optical excellence for durability, but the lens specs here are telling.

• Fujifilm XP60: 28-140mm equivalent zoom at f/3.9-4.9 with 5x optical zoom.
• Pentax WG-3 GPS: 25-100mm equivalent zoom, slightly wider at the short end, with a faster f/2.0 maximum aperture wide open, narrowing to f/4.9 at telephoto, and a 4x optical zoom.

That fast f/2.0 on the WG-3’s wide end is a significant advantage in low light and for shallow depth of field effects, such as isolating subjects with blurred backgrounds - something rare in waterproof compacts.

Macro capability is also superior on the Pentax, with a close focusing distance down to 1 cm - great for detailed close-ups of insects, textures, or underwater flora. Fuji’s macro range is unspecified but notably less accommodating.

The XP60’s longer zoom length reaches 140mm, useful for slightly more reach in wildlife or distant scenes, though image quality softening is noticeable at telephoto extremes on both cameras.

Performance Across Photography Types: Who Suits Which Genre Best?

How do these cameras hold up when shooting portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and more? Let’s review their strengths and weaknesses across major photographic genres.

Fujifilm XP60 front Fujifilm XP60 screen back Pentax WG 3 GPS front Pentax WG 3 GPS screen back

Portrait Photography

Capturing natural skin tones and attractive bokeh demands a combination of sensor quality, lens speed, and autofocus. The WG-3 GPS shines here thanks to its faster f/2.0 lens at wide end and face detection AF, helping produce images with pleasantly soft backgrounds and well-focused eyes. The XP60's slower aperture and lack of face detection limit its portrait finesse.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution matter for landscapes. Both have 16MP sensors with similar dynamic range limitations typical of 1/2.3” sensors. Neither supports RAW, which constrains highlight and shadow recovery. Weather sealing and ruggedness are comparable, though the WG-3’s crushproof rating offers added resilience outdoors. The XP60’s longer zoom advantage lets you isolate landscape details farther away.

Wildlife Photography

Here, autofocus tracking and burst rates count. The XP60 offers a 10 fps burst - impressive on paper - but only with single-area AF, which challenges tracking moving subjects. The WG-3 lacks high burst rates but features multi-area AF and face detection that can aid tracking accuracy on medium-sized animals. Neither excels compared to modern mirrorless cameras, so expect some missed shots with fast action.

Sports Photography

Fast and reliable AF combined with high frame rates make sports photo success stories. The XP60’s continuous AF with 10 fps burst is promising, but the fixed-focus area reduces effectiveness on erratic sports subjects. The WG-3’s slower burst but more sophisticated AF points and face detection balance things out. Yet both cameras fall short of enthusiast sports shooters’ expectations.

Street Photography

Discretion, portability, and quick responsiveness are key. The XP60’s compact size and lighter weight make it less obtrusive for street shoots. Its simpler interface also means fewer distractions when shooting on the fly. The WG-3, while bulkier, offers faster aperture to shoot in dawn or dusk street scenes without raising ISO.

Macro Photography

No contest here - the WG-3’s 1 cm macro focusing distance allows capturing fine detail up-close with clarity. The XP60 is far less capable in this area.

Night and Astro Photography

Limited sensor size and slow lenses constrain both for astrophotography. The WG-3’s f/2.0 lens helps for night shots but both cameras suffer from noise beyond ISO 400-800 and lack long exposure BULB modes or specialized astro settings.

Video Capabilities

Both cameras shoot Full HD 1080p video, but the XP60 includes 60fps options for smoother motion compared to the WG-3’s max 30fps. Neither supports external microphones or advanced video features like 4K or stabilized zoom during video. Pentax adds time-lapse recording, an interesting bonus.

Professional Workload and Workflow Integration: Do They Fit Into a Pro Environment?

For professionals, reliability, file formats, and workflow compatibility matter as much as image quality.

• Neither camera offers RAW shooting, limiting post-processing flexibility - a significant drawback if you need professional-grade images.
• Pentax integrates built-in GPS for automatic geotagging, useful for workflows requiring location metadata.
• Both offer USB 2.0 and HDMI ports, but lack wi-fi or Bluetooth save for the Pentax’s Eye-Fi card compatibility.
• Storage via SD/SDHC/SDXC is standard.

Given these constraints, I consider both better suited as rugged second bodies or casual cameras rather than main pro tools.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Can You Shoot?

In the field, battery endurance and storage expandability are crucial.

The Pentax WG-3 GPS uses the D-LI92 proprietary battery and Pepsi life rated at approximately 240 shots (per CIPA standard). The XP60’s battery specs were not explicitly provided but given its smaller size and older propulsion, expect less stamina.

Both use single SD card slots - SDHC and SDXC compatible.

I recommend carrying spares for both, particularly if you shoot video or burst mode.

Connectivity: Sharing and Data Transfer Made Easy?

For on-the-go photographers, wired and wireless connectivity matter.

• Pentax WG-3 GPS has built-in GPS and Eye-Fi card compatibility for wireless image transfer - helpful for fieldwork requiring location tagging or remote downloading.
• The Fujifilm XP60 lacks wireless or GPS entirely, which is a downgrade if sharing or location data is important.
• Both support HDMI output for direct playback on TVs and USB 2.0 for file transfers.

Environmental Sealing: Ready for the Harshest Conditions?

These cameras are designed to brave tough environments.

• Both are waterproof, dustproof, and freezeproof.
• Pentax WG-3 adds crushproof capability.
• The freezeproof status on both (down to approximately -10°C) means you can count on them for winter adventures.
• Shockproofing differs slightly, with Pentax rated for higher impact drops.

If your adventures venture into extreme terrain, the WG-3’s spec sheet feels more reassuring.

Price and Value Analysis: Which Delivers More Bang for Your Buck?

At launch, the Fujifilm XP60 was priced around $180, while the Pentax WG-3 GPS came in roughly at $350.

Given the wider feature set - better screen, faster lens, superior autofocus system, GPS, crushproofing, and time-lapse - the Pentax commands a premium but arguably justifies it for enthusiasts needing these extras.

If budget constraints dominate and you want a simple, capable waterproof compact without fuss, XP60 remains a solid value.

Summing Up: Who Should Get Which?

Both cameras shine in the niche of tough, waterproof compacts but cater to subtly different user profiles:

• Choose the Fujifilm XP60 if:

  • You want the lightest, most compact camera for casual adventure photography or quick snapshots.
  • Your budget is tight and you’re okay with simplified operation and fewer advanced features.
  • Portability trumps manual control and you mostly shoot outdoors in good light.

• Choose the Pentax WG-3 GPS if:

  • You need greater ruggedness (crushproofing included) and more assured durability.
  • Shooting versatility matters: faster lens for low light, face detection AF, macro close-ups, GPS tagging, and time-lapse are priorities.
  • You prefer a better display for composing under all conditions.

Both are not ideal primary cameras for serious professionals, especially due to the lack of RAW shooting and limited image quality compromises expected from 1/2.3" sensor compacts. But as lightweight, tough companions, they hold their ground impressively.

Final Thoughts from My Field Testing Experience

In my years shooting across dozens of rugged compacts, the Pentax WG-3 GPS stands out as a more thoughtfully engineered package with clear incremental improvements over Fujifilm’s XP60. The speedier lens and better interface make it the more enjoyable camera to use in varied shooting scenarios.

Still, the XP60’s appeal lies in pure simplicity and portability. For family vacations, beach days, or casual hikes where you just want to grab-and-go, it remains a satisfying tool.

Frequently Asked Practical Questions

Can I shoot RAW with either camera? Neither supports RAW, so if extensive post-processing is your workflow, look elsewhere.

How do they handle underwater shooting? Both are waterproof down to 10m; ensure proper housing seals. The XP60’s simpler controls reduce chances of accidental mode changes underwater.

Are videos good? Pentax offers time-lapse and better codecs but capped at 30fps Full HD; Fuji can do 60fps at Full HD but no advanced video features.

What about battery life in cold weather? Pentax’s higher-rated battery and crush/freezeproof design make it more reliable in colder conditions.

If you found this comparison helpful and want to see sample images or interface walkthroughs, check out my detailed photo galleries and videos linked throughout. Choosing between these rugged compacts depends on your exact outdoor demands and photographic aspirations, and I hope my insights bring clarity to your decision.

Safe shooting out there!

• Your camera gear guide with 15+ years of hands-on experience