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Nikon Z50 vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74
Nikon Z50 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax WG-1 Key Specs

Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Released October 2019
Pentax WG-1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced February 2011
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Nikon Z50 vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

Below is a complete comparison of the Nikon Z50 and Pentax WG-1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof by companies Nikon and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the Z50 (21MP) and WG-1 (14MP) and the Z50 (APS-C) and WG-1 (1/2.3") feature different sensor measurements.

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The Z50 was manufactured 8 years later than the WG-1 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Nikon Z50 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the Z50 grades vs the WG-1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Pentax WG-1

 Z50 WG-1 
AnnouncedOctober 2019February 2011More recent by 106 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1040k230kCrisper display (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Nikon Z50

 WG-1 Z50 

Common features in the Nikon Z50 and Pentax WG-1

 Z50 WG-1 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and volume. The Nikon Z50 offers physical measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") and a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-1 has sizing of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Nikon Z50 and Pentax WG-1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the Z50 and the WG-1.

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the Z50 and WG-1 is 74 and 93 respectively.

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to imagine the difference between sensor measurements only by reading through technical specs. The visual here will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the Z50 and WG-1.

As you can tell, both of those cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The Z50 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Nikon Z50 will give greater detail due to its extra 7 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more modern Z50 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Portrait photography camera
80
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (21 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW files
35
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14MP)
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z50 Street photography information
Pentax WG-1 Street photography information
73
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
supports focus by touch
environment proofing
above average high ISO (51,200)
no image stabilization
more heavy than average (397 grams)
54
weather proof
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Sports photography camera
75
megapixel count decent (21MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
37
good megapixels (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon Z50
Travel photography with Pentax WG-1
77
environment proofing
supports bluetooth
supports focus by touch
megapixel count decent (21 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
more heavy than average (397g)
71
weather proof
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z50 Landscape photography features
Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography features
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen size is decent (3.2 inches)
megapixel count decent (21MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
no image stabilization
42
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
good megapixels (14MP)
weather proof
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z50 Vlogging features
Pentax WG-1 Vlogging features
71
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external microphone socket
no image stabilization
more heavy than average (397g)
25
decently wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic socket
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Nikon Z50 vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z50 and Pentax WG-1
 Nikon Z50Pentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon Z50 Pentax Optio WG-1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2019-10-10 2011-02-07
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5568 x 3712 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 51200 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 204800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
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
Total focus points 209 9
Lens
Lens support Nikon Z fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 15 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.2 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting rate 11.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 397 gr (0.88 pounds) 157 gr (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 320 images 260 images
Battery type Built-in Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL25 D-LI92
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $857 $350