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Nikon S30 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS

Portability
90
Imaging
32
Features
18
Overall
26
Nikon Coolpix S30 front
 
Pentax WG-3 GPS front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
43
Overall
40

Nikon S30 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Key Specs

Nikon S30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 29-87mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 102 x 65 x 40mm
  • Launched February 2012
Pentax WG-3 GPS
(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
  • 238g - 125 x 64 x 33mm
  • Revealed July 2013
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Nikon S30 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Overview

Lets look closer at the Nikon S30 and Pentax WG-3 GPS, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Waterproof by rivals Nikon and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the S30 (10MP) and WG-3 GPS (16MP) and the S30 (1/3") and WG-3 GPS (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The S30 was brought out 17 months before the WG-3 GPS making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summation of how the S30 grades against the WG-3 GPS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S30 over the Pentax WG-3 GPS

 S30 WG-3 GPS 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 GPS over the Nikon S30

 WG-3 GPS S30 
RevealedJuly 2013February 2012Newer by 17 months
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Nikon S30 and Pentax WG-3 GPS

 S30 WG-3 GPS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Nikon S30 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Nikon S30 has outer measurements of 102mm x 65mm x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Pentax WG-3 GPS has specifications of 125mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 238 grams (0.52 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon S30 and Pentax WG-3 GPS in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the S30 against the WG-3 GPS.

Nikon S30 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S30 and WG-3 GPS is 90 and 90 respectively.

Nikon S30 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS top view buttons comparison

Nikon S30 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions only by looking through technical specs. The picture underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the S30 and WG-3 GPS.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The S30 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax WG-3 GPS will provide you with extra detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged S30 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon S30 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS sensor size comparison

Nikon S30 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S30 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S30
Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3 GPS
24
supports face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/3")
lack of RAW format
40
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
includes face detection focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon S30 Street photography highlights
Pentax WG-3 GPS Street photography highlights
51
weather proof
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/3")
lack of RAW format
more heavy than competitors in class (214 grams)
58
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than average (238g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S30 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-3 GPS as a Sports photography camera
28
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
weather proof
low frames per second (1.5 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (240 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S30 Travel photography advice
Pentax WG-3 GPS Travel photography advice
52
weather proof
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (214 grams)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (29mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
68
weather proof
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery pack (240 shots)
more heavy than average (238g)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S30 Landscape photography information
Pentax WG-3 GPS Landscape photography information
25
weather proof
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (29mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
53
has manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
not so great battery pack (240 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S30 Vlogging advice
Pentax WG-3 GPS Vlogging advice
23
supports face detection focus
wide angle not the best (29mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone port
more heavy than competitors in class (214g)
34
decently wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly display
no external microphone port
more heavy than average (238g)
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Nikon S30 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S30 and Pentax WG-3 GPS
 Nikon Coolpix S30Pentax WG-3 GPS
General Information
Brand Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon Coolpix S30 Pentax WG-3 GPS
Category Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Launched 2012-02-01 2013-07-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 4.8 x 3.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 17.3mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 29-87mm (3.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 7.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT-LCD Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.5 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 3.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 214 grams (0.47 lb) 238 grams (0.52 lb)
Dimensions 102 x 65 x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6") 125 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3")
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 240 photos 240 photos
Type of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA D-LI92
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $119 $350