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Leica V-Lux 20 vs Pentax WG-3

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
33
Overall
34
Leica V-Lux 20 front
 
Pentax WG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Pentax WG-3 Key Specs

Leica V-Lux 20
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 218g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Introduced April 2010
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
  • Introduced July 2013
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Leica V-Lux 20 vs Pentax WG-3 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Leica V-Lux 20 and Pentax WG-3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Leica and Pentax. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the V-Lux 20 (12MP) and WG-3 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The V-Lux 20 was revealed 4 years earlier than the WG-3 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the V-Lux 20 scores against the WG-3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Leica V-Lux 20 over the Pentax WG-3

 V-Lux 20 WG-3 
Screen resolution461k460kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Leica V-Lux 20

 WG-3 V-Lux 20 
IntroducedJuly 2013April 2010Fresher by 39 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focus

Common features in the Leica V-Lux 20 and Pentax WG-3

 V-Lux 20 WG-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Pentax WG-3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Leica V-Lux 20 provides outside measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) while the Pentax WG-3 has sizing of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Check the Leica V-Lux 20 and Pentax WG-3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is a front view scale comparison of the V-Lux 20 versus the WG-3.

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Pentax WG-3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the V-Lux 20 and WG-3 is 91 and 90 respectively.

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Pentax WG-3 top view buttons comparison

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Pentax WG-3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading specs. The visual below will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the V-Lux 20 and WG-3.

All in all, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Pentax WG-3 to deliver extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older V-Lux 20 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Pentax WG-3 sensor size comparison

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica V-Lux 20 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica V-Lux 20 Portrait photography features
Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography features
21
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
41
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Leica V-Lux 20 Street photography details
Pentax WG-3 Street photography details
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (218 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Leica V-Lux 20 Sports photography factors
Pentax WG-3 Sports photography factors
27
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (2.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (240 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Leica V-Lux 20 Travel photography advice
Pentax WG-3 Travel photography advice
63
lighter than competition in class (218g)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
72
environment sealing
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
terrible battery power (240 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Leica V-Lux 20 Landscape photography factors
Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography factors
38
decently wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
54
you can focus manually
fairly wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
terrible battery power (240 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica V-Lux 20 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax WG-3 as a Vlogging camera
30
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (218g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone port
36
fairly wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
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Leica V-Lux 20 vs Pentax WG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica V-Lux 20 and Pentax WG-3
 Leica V-Lux 20Pentax WG-3
General Information
Company Leica Pentax
Model Leica V-Lux 20 Pentax WG-3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Introduced 2010-04-20 2013-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.30 m 3.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro 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
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 218 grams (0.48 lb) 230 grams (0.51 lb)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3")
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 - 240 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $779 $300