Clicky

Nikon S32 vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
90
Imaging
36
Features
23
Overall
30
Nikon Coolpix S32 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Nikon S32 vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Nikon S32
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 30-90mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 175g - 108 x 66 x 40mm
  • Announced February 2014
Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Revealed February 2012
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Nikon S32 vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Nikon S32 vs Pentax WG-2, both Waterproof cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Pentax. The image resolution of the S32 (13MP) and the WG-2 (16MP) is relatively close but the S32 (1/3") and WG-2 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The S32 was released 2 years after the WG-2 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief view of how the S32 grades against the WG-2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon S32 over the Pentax WG-2

 S32 WG-2 
RevealedFebruary 2014February 2012More modern by 25 months

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Nikon S32

 WG-2 S32 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Nikon S32 and Pentax WG-2

 S32 WG-2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Nikon S32 vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Nikon S32 provides exterior measurements of 108mm x 66mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.6") along with a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-2 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Look at the Nikon S32 vs Pentax WG-2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the S32 vs the WG-2.

Nikon S32 vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the S32 and WG-2 is 90 and 91 respectively.

Nikon S32 vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S32 vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes just by looking through specifications. The pic here might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the S32 and WG-2.

Plainly, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The S32 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Pentax WG-2 will render more detail as a result of its extra 3MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The newer S32 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Nikon S32 vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Nikon S32 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S32 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S32 Portrait photography info
Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography info
33
good MP (13MP)
includes face detection focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/3")
lacks RAW format
40
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Street Comparison

Nikon S32 Street photography advice
Pentax WG-2 Street photography advice
60
image stabilization (Digital)
environment proof
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/3")
lacks RAW format
54
weather proof
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon S32
Sports photography with Pentax WG-2
36
image stabilization (Digital)
good MP (13MP)
environment proof
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/3")
not so great battery power (220 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
38
MP count good (16MP)
has tracking focus
weather proof
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon S32
Travel photography with Pentax WG-2
58
environment proof
good MP (13MP)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
not so great battery power (220 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (30mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
70
weather proof
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon S32
Landscape photography with Pentax WG-2
34
image stabilization (Digital)
good MP (13 megapixels)
environment proof
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (30mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
47
you can focus manually
relatively wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
MP count good (16MP)
weather proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S32 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Vlogging camera
30
image stabilization (Digital)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
wide angle not good (30mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
30
relatively wide (28mm)
has face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
does not have microphone support
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Nikon S32 vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S32 and Pentax WG-2
 Nikon Coolpix S32Pentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon Coolpix S32 Pentax Optio WG-2
Category Waterproof Waterproof
Announced 2014-02-07 2012-02-07
Physical type 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 area 17.3mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 13MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4160 x 3120 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 30-90mm (3.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 7.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT LCD with anti-reflection coating Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.10 m 5.40 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920x1080 (30p), VGA 640x480 (30p, 15p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 175 gr (0.39 pounds) 192 gr (0.42 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 66 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.6") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 260 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL19 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (Approx. 10 seconds ) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD / SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $180 $350