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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62
Pentax K-500 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Introduced February 2012
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

The following is a complete analysis of the Pentax K-500 versus Pentax WG-2, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Waterproof and they are both designed by Pentax. The sensor resolution of the K-500 (16MP) and the WG-2 (16MP) is very well matched but the K-500 (APS-C) and WG-2 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizing.

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The K-500 was manufactured 22 months after the WG-2 making them a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax WG-2 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the K-500 grades versus the WG-2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Pentax WG-2

 K-500 WG-2 
IntroducedNovember 2013February 2012Newer by 22 months
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Pentax K-500

 WG-2 K-500 

Common features in the Pentax K-500 and Pentax WG-2

 K-500 WG-2 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax K-500 has got outer dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-2 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

See the Pentax K-500 versus Pentax WG-2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the K-500 against the WG-2.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the K-500 and WG-2 is 64 and 91 respectively.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to picture the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reading through technical specs. The pic underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-500 and WG-2.

As you can tell, the two cameras come with the identical MP but different sensor dimensions. The K-500 comes with the larger sensor which will make obtaining shallower DOF less difficult. The more recent K-500 should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-500 Portrait photography advice
Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography advice
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection focus
supports RAW files
40
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports face detection focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Street photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Street photography camera
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
great ISO range (51,600)
no moving screen
54
environment sealing
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-500 Sports photography factors
Pentax WG-2 Sports photography factors
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (710 CIPA)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
38
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-500 Travel photography features
Pentax WG-2 Travel photography features
67
better than average battery pack (710 CIPA)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have a selfie friendly display
70
environment sealing
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-500 Landscape photography advice
Pentax WG-2 Landscape photography advice
79
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,600)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (710 shots)
47
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-500 Vlogging advice
Pentax WG-2 Vlogging advice
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no external microphone support
30
really wide (28mm)
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no external mic socket
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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-500 and Pentax WG-2
 Pentax K-500Pentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-500 Pentax Optio WG-2
Type Entry-Level DSLR Waterproof
Revealed 2013-11-27 2012-02-07
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by PRIME M -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4928 x 3264 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 51600 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 921k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/6000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.40 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 646g (1.42 lbs) 192g (0.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $600 $350