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Pentax K-5 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS

Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66
Pentax K-5 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Key Specs

Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed December 2010
  • Previous Model is Pentax K-7
  • Successor is Pentax K-5 IIs
Pentax WG-1 GPS
(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
  • 167g - 116 x 59 x 29mm
  • Revealed August 2011
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Pentax K-5 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Pentax K-5 and Pentax WG-1 GPS, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Waterproof and both of them are sold by Pentax. The image resolution of the K-5 (16MP) and the WG-1 GPS (14MP) is fairly comparable but the K-5 (APS-C) and WG-1 GPS (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The K-5 was announced 8 months earlier than the WG-1 GPS which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax WG-1 GPS being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the K-5 matches up against the WG-1 GPS for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Pentax WG-1 GPS

 K-5 WG-1 GPS 
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 GPS over the Pentax K-5

 WG-1 GPS K-5 
RevealedAugust 2011December 2010Fresher by 8 months

Common features in the Pentax K-5 and Pentax WG-1 GPS

 K-5 WG-1 GPS 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and volume. The Pentax K-5 provides external measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs) while the Pentax WG-1 GPS has sizing of 116mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Examine the Pentax K-5 and Pentax WG-1 GPS in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the K-5 and the WG-1 GPS.

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-5 and WG-1 GPS is 60 and 93 respectively.

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing purely by checking out specs. The visual below might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the K-5 and WG-1 GPS.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The K-5 using its larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Pentax K-5 will produce more detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older K-5 will be behind in sensor technology.

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS sensor size comparison

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-5 Portrait photography advice
Pentax WG-1 GPS Portrait photography advice
73
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW files
35
focusing manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-5 Street photography features
Pentax WG-1 GPS Street photography features
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proof
fixed screen
54
weather proof
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-5 Sports photography information
Pentax WG-1 GPS Sports photography information
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect AF
37
MP count good (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-5 Travel photography factors
Pentax WG-1 GPS Travel photography factors
65
weather proof
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
71
weather proof
MP count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-1 GPS as a Landscape photography camera
78
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proof
42
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
MP count good (14MP)
weather proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax WG-1 GPS as a Vlogging camera
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone port
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
25
quite wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic jack
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Pentax K-5 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-5 and Pentax WG-1 GPS
 Pentax K-5Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-5 Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
Category Advanced DSLR Waterproof
Revealed 2010-12-18 2011-08-16
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Prime II -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 -
Highest resolution 4928 x 3264 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Highest boosted ISO 51200 -
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT LCD monitor TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 740g (1.63 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") 116 x 59 x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 82 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 14.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 1162 not tested
Other
Battery life 980 pictures 260 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 D-LI92
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $800 $350