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Nikon P520 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS

Portability
66
Imaging
42
Features
51
Overall
45
Nikon Coolpix P520 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Nikon P520 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Key Specs

Nikon P520
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1000mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 550g - 125 x 84 x 102mm
  • Released January 2013
  • Superseded the Nikon P510
  • Refreshed by Nikon P530
Pentax WG-1 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 167g - 116 x 59 x 29mm
  • Launched August 2011
Photography Glossary

Nikon P520 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Overview

Following is a extended review of the Nikon P520 and Pentax WG-1 GPS, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Waterproof by companies Nikon and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the P520 (18MP) and WG-1 GPS (14MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The P520 was introduced 18 months after the WG-1 GPS which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon P520 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax WG-1 GPS being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a quick summary of how the P520 matches up vs the WG-1 GPS in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P520 over the Pentax WG-1 GPS

 P520 WG-1 GPS 
LaunchedJanuary 2013August 2011More modern by 18 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 GPS over the Nikon P520

 WG-1 GPS P520 

Common features in the Nikon P520 and Pentax WG-1 GPS

 P520 WG-1 GPS 
Manual focus More exact focus
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Nikon P520 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Nikon P520 enjoys outer measurements of 125mm x 84mm x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") accompanied by a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-1 GPS has sizing of 116mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check the Nikon P520 and Pentax WG-1 GPS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at that moment. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the P520 and the WG-1 GPS.

Nikon P520 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the P520 and WG-1 GPS is 66 and 93 respectively.

Nikon P520 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS top view buttons comparison

Nikon P520 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes purely by checking out a spec sheet. The pic below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the P520 and WG-1 GPS.

Clearly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Nikon P520 to show extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots far more aggressively. The fresher P520 will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon P520 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS sensor size comparison

Nikon P520 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P520 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P520 Portrait photography advice
Pentax WG-1 GPS Portrait photography advice
41
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
35
you can focus manually
good resolution (14MP)
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon P520 Street photography info
Pentax WG-1 GPS Street photography info
51
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than competition (550 grams)
54
weather proofing
fixed screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon P520 Sports photography features
Pentax WG-1 GPS Sports photography features
46
great zoom range (24-1000mm 41.7 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (200 per charge)
no phase detect AF
37
good resolution (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon P520
Travel photography with Pentax WG-1 GPS
57
megapixel count decent (18MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (1000mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (200 per charge)
more heavy than competition (550 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
71
weather proofing
good resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P520 Landscape photography advice
Pentax WG-1 GPS Landscape photography advice
46
you can focus manually
pretty wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
bad battery pack (200 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
42
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
good resolution (14MP)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon P520
Vlogging with Pentax WG-1 GPS
57
pretty wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have microphone port
more heavy than competition (550g)
25
quite wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Nikon P520 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P520 and Pentax WG-1 GPS
 Nikon Coolpix P520Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon Coolpix P520 Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Released 2013-01-29 2011-08-16
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.16 x 4.62mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Max resolution 4896 x 3672 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1000mm (41.7x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.2 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 3.90 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB none USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 550 grams (1.21 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 125 x 84 x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") 116 x 59 x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 200 images 260 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL5 D-LI92
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $380 $350