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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62
Pentax K-500 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-1 Key Specs

Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released November 2013
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
  • Revealed February 2011
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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Pentax K-500 versus Pentax WG-1, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Waterproof and both are offered by Pentax. The sensor resolution of the K-500 (16MP) and the WG-1 (14MP) is very well matched but the K-500 (APS-C) and WG-1 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The K-500 was unveiled 2 years later than the WG-1 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short summation of how the K-500 grades against the WG-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Pentax WG-1

 K-500 WG-1 
RevealedNovember 2013February 2011Fresher by 35 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Pentax K-500

 WG-1 K-500 

Common features in the Pentax K-500 and Pentax WG-1

 K-500 WG-1 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-500 provides physical measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs) and the Pentax WG-1 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax K-500 versus Pentax WG-1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the K-500 and the WG-1.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the K-500 and WG-1 is 64 and 93 respectively.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to see the contrast between sensor sizing merely by checking technical specs. The graphic below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the K-500 and WG-1.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The K-500 with its larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Pentax K-500 will give you extra detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The younger K-500 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-500 Portrait photography details
Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography details
74
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
35
has manual focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-500
Street photography with Pentax WG-1
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
great high ISO (51,600)
fixed screen
54
weather proof
fixed screen
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Sports photography camera
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
great battery power (710 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
37
megapixel count good (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-500
Travel photography with Pentax WG-1
67
great battery power (710 shots)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
71
weather proof
megapixel count good (14MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Landscape photography camera
79
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (51,600)
exports RAW files
great battery power (710 shots)
42
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
megapixel count good (14MP)
weather proof
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-500 Vlogging factors
Pentax WG-1 Vlogging factors
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of mic support
25
decently wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-500 and Pentax WG-1
 Pentax K-500Pentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-500 Pentax Optio WG-1
Category Entry-Level DSLR Waterproof
Released 2013-11-27 2011-02-07
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by PRIME M -
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 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4928 x 3264 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 51600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 646 grams (1.42 lb) 157 grams (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1087 not tested
Other
Battery life 710 images 260 images
Style of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA D-LI92
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at release $600 $350