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Pentax S1 vs Pentax WG-3

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Pentax Optio S1 front
 
Pentax WG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
44
Overall
41

Pentax S1 vs Pentax WG-3 Key Specs

Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched March 2011
Pentax WG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Introduced July 2013
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Pentax S1 vs Pentax WG-3 Overview

Here is a extended review of the Pentax S1 vs Pentax WG-3, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Waterproof and both of them are designed by Pentax. The resolution of the S1 (14MP) and the WG-3 (16MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras offer the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The S1 was manufactured 3 years prior to the WG-3 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a full comparison, here is a simple summary of how the S1 scores against the WG-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Pentax WG-3

 S1 WG-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Pentax S1

 WG-3 S1 
IntroducedJuly 2013March 2011Fresher by 29 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Pentax S1 and Pentax WG-3

 S1 WG-3 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Pentax S1 vs Pentax WG-3 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax S1 has outer dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Pentax WG-3 has specifications of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Examine the Pentax S1 vs Pentax WG-3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the S1 vs the WG-3.

Pentax S1 vs Pentax WG-3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the S1 and WG-3 is 93 and 90 respectively.

Pentax S1 vs Pentax WG-3 top view buttons comparison

Pentax S1 vs Pentax WG-3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizing merely by checking specifications. The visual below may provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S1 and WG-3.

Plainly, both cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Pentax WG-3 to give greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The older S1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax S1 vs Pentax WG-3 sensor size comparison

Pentax S1 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax S1 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax S1 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography highlights
35
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
40
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax S1 Street photography features
Pentax WG-3 Street photography features
56
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax S1 Sports photography details
Pentax WG-3 Sports photography details
39
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery power (240 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax S1
Travel photography with Pentax WG-3
64
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
72
weather proofing
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
low battery power (240 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax S1 Landscape photography factors
Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography factors
42
focusing manually
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
53
has manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery power (240 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax S1
Vlogging with Pentax WG-3
28
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone port
36
relatively wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of external mic support
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Pentax S1 vs Pentax WG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax S1 and Pentax WG-3
 Pentax Optio S1Pentax WG-3
General Information
Brand Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax Optio S1 Pentax WG-3
Type Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Launched 2011-03-02 2013-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.90 m 3.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 157 gr (0.35 pounds) 230 gr (0.51 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") 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 260 photographs 240 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $174 $300