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Pentax W90 vs Sony G3

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29
Pentax Optio W90 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
32
Features
30
Overall
31

Pentax W90 vs Sony G3 Key Specs

Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Released February 2010
Sony G3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 185g - 97 x 59 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
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Pentax W90 vs Sony G3 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Pentax W90 vs Sony G3, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the W90 (12MP) and the G3 (10MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras boast the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The W90 was released 14 months later than the G3 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the W90 matches up vs the G3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Sony G3

 W90 G3 
ReleasedFebruary 2010January 2009More recent by 14 months

Reasons to pick Sony G3 over the Pentax W90

 G3 W90 
Screen dimensions3.5"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.8")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax W90 and Sony G3

 W90 G3 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Pentax W90 vs Sony G3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Pentax W90 features outer dimensions of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") having a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs) and the Sony G3 has proportions of 97mm x 59mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax W90 vs Sony G3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the W90 and the G3.

Pentax W90 vs Sony G3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the W90 and G3 is 94 and 94 respectively.

Pentax W90 vs Sony G3 top view buttons comparison

Pentax W90 vs Sony G3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to visualize the difference in sensor measurements merely by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the W90 and G3.

Clearly, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can expect the Pentax W90 to show more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The more recent W90 provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax W90 vs Sony G3 sensor size comparison

Pentax W90 vs Sony G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax W90 vs Sony G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax W90 Portrait photography advice
Sony G3 Portrait photography advice
27
manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
25
you can focus manually
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax W90 Street photography advice
Sony G3 Street photography advice
54
weather sealing
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax W90 Sports photography highlights
Sony G3 Sports photography highlights
24
weather sealing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
23
image stabilization (Optical)
low max shutter speed (1/1,000s)
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax W90 Travel photography factors
Sony G3 Travel photography factors
64
weather sealing
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
50
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
MP count low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax W90 Landscape photography factors
Sony G3 Landscape photography factors
37
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
35
you can focus manually
very good size screen (3.5 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax W90 Vlogging information
Sony G3 Vlogging information
25
reasonably wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
27
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Pentax W90 vs Sony G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax W90 and Sony G3
 Pentax Optio W90Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio W90 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-02-24 2009-01-08
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Prime -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 35-140mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/3.5-10.0
Macro focus range 1cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3.5 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 1 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/1000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.90 m 4.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 164 grams (0.36 lbs) 185 grams (0.41 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") 97 x 59 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 model D-LI68 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $120 $200