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Nikon S9500 vs Pentax WG-3

Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
37
Overall
40
Nikon Coolpix S9500 front
 
Pentax WG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
44
Overall
41

Nikon S9500 vs Pentax WG-3 Key Specs

Nikon S9500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-550mm (F) lens
  • 205g - 110 x 60 x 31mm
  • Released January 2013
  • Old Model is Nikon S9300
  • Newer Model is Nikon S9700
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
  • Announced July 2013
Photography Glossary

Nikon S9500 vs Pentax WG-3 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Nikon S9500 and Pentax WG-3, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof by rivals Nikon and Pentax. The image resolution of the S9500 (18MP) and the WG-3 (16MP) is pretty close and they enjoy the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The S9500 was brought out 5 months before the WG-3 so they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief overview of how the S9500 matches up vs the WG-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S9500 over the Pentax WG-3

 S9500 WG-3 
Screen resolution614k460kSharper screen (+154k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Nikon S9500

 WG-3 S9500 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing

Common features in the Nikon S9500 and Pentax WG-3

 S9500 WG-3 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013July 2013Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Nikon S9500 vs Pentax WG-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera, you need to think about its weight and size. The Nikon S9500 offers exterior dimensions of 110mm x 60mm x 31mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Pentax WG-3 has specifications of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Look at the Nikon S9500 and Pentax WG-3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the S9500 vs the WG-3.

Nikon S9500 vs Pentax WG-3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S9500 and WG-3 is 92 and 90 respectively.

Nikon S9500 vs Pentax WG-3 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S9500 vs Pentax WG-3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes just by looking through specs. The image underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the S9500 and WG-3.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Nikon S9500 to result in more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively.

Nikon S9500 vs Pentax WG-3 sensor size comparison

Nikon S9500 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S9500 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S9500
Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3
31
MP count good (18MP)
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
40
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon S9500 Street photography details
Pentax WG-3 Street photography details
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (205 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S9500 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-3 as a Sports photography camera
42
amazing zoom range (25-550mm 22.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proof
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (240 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S9500 Travel photography details
Pentax WG-3 Travel photography details
71
lighter than competition in class (205g)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (550mm)
good max aperture (f)
does not have Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (230 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly display
72
weather proof
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
low battery power (240 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S9500 Landscape photography information
Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography information
46
quite wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
bad battery pack (230 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
53
focusing manually
pretty wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
weather proof
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
low battery power (240 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S9500 Vlogging info
Pentax WG-3 Vlogging info
36
quite wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (205g)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have mic jack
36
pretty wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no external microphone support
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Nikon S9500 vs Pentax WG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S9500 and Pentax WG-3
 Nikon Coolpix S9500Pentax WG-3
General Information
Make Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon Coolpix S9500 Pentax WG-3
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Released 2013-01-29 2013-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.16 x 4.62mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4896 x 3672 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 99 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-550mm (22.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 614k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech OLED monitor Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/1500s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 7.5 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 3.40 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 205 grams (0.45 lbs) 230 grams (0.51 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 60 x 31mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.2") 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 230 photos 240 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL12 D-LI92
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $230 $300