Pentax WG-1 GPS vs. Ricoh PX: Which Compact Tough Camera Reigns Supreme in 2024?

Choosing a rugged compact camera - from a select few released in the early 2010s - remains relevant for enthusiasts who prize durability and simplicity over cutting-edge specs. Today, I’ve put the Pentax WG-1 GPS head-to-head with the Ricoh PX, two tough cameras both announced in August 2011, sharing a near-identical fixed lens zoom and a similar target audience. But as any experienced photographer knows, the devil is in the details, especially with rugged compacts where robustness competes with image quality and handling.

After many hours testing and comparing these models across photography genres, I’ll unpack their engineering, real-world usability, and optical outcomes to help you decide which best fits your adventurous shooting style.

Size and Handling - Designed for the Rough and Ready

At first glance, both cameras look rugged, but their physical presence tells very different stories. The Pentax WG-1 GPS is noticeably chunkier and heavier at 167g, measuring 116x59x29mm, while the Ricoh PX is a leaner 156g and more compact at 100x55x21mm.

I found the WG-1 GPS favors a chunkier grip and more substantial controls - great for shooting with gloves or in wet conditions. The Ricoh PX feels sleeker and more pocketable, almost like a regular compact with an added protective shell. While both are splash and dust resistant, only the WG-1 GPS boasts official waterproof, shockproof, crushproof, and freezeproof certifications - making it a very capable travel companion for the extreme outdoors.

If you prioritize compactness and lighter carry, the PX’s slimmer body wins. For those who value solid heft and rugged build alone, the WG-1 GPS stands taller.

Command and Control - Interface and Ergonomics Explored

Let’s peek from above. Both cameras come with fixed 2.7-inch LCDs and minimal physical controls, but the ergonomics betray their intended use.

The WG-1 GPS’s buttons are sculpted in a manner befitting serious outdoor use - easier to find by touch. Meanwhile, the PX opts for a more typical compact layout with fewer dedicated mode controls but goes a step further with manual exposure options, including aperture priority - surprising for a rugged point-and-shoot of its class.

Both lack viewfinders - typical for this category - making the back LCD your sole composing tool. I’ll discuss that screen next.

Sensor Specifications and Image Quality - Same Chip, Different Souls?

Under the hood, both models employ a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring 6.17x4.55mm - a standard for compacts in 2011 but modest by today's mirrorless or APS-C standards.

The Pentax WG-1 GPS captures 14 megapixels; the Ricoh PX ups the ante slightly with 16MP. Both implement an anti-aliasing filter, which slightly softens images but reduces moiré artifacts.

From my controlled lab tests and outdoor shoots, neither sensor can rival modern high-end compacts or mirrorless models in noise performance or dynamic range. Low-light shots beyond ISO 400 quickly become grainy, with the WG-1’s max ISO rating of 6400 (though practical usability is closer to 800) slightly outpacing the PX's capped 3200 ISO.

The PX’s sensor combined with the Smooth Imaging Engine IV processor delivers somewhat cleaner images with better color fidelity, thanks in part to its improved automatic white balance - including custom white balance and white balance bracketing that the WG-1 GPS lacks.

In terms of resolution and detail, the PX’s 16MP output lends an edge for cropping or large prints, but the WG-1’s 14MP keeps pace when shooting at base ISO in good light.

Back Screen and User Interface - Composing Through the LCD

Both cameras feature a fixed, anti-reflective 2.7-inch TFT LCD with a resolution of 230k dots.

The WG-1 GPS’s screen benefits from the anti-reflective coating, performing slightly better under direct sunlight. Meanwhile, the PX’s display shows punchier colors but more evident reflections outdoors.

Neither is touch-enabled, which admittedly feels archaic in 2024 but normal for their generation and class.

The PX does win in interface responsiveness, particularly shuttling through menus and in playback, where its manual controls feel less cumbersome compared to the WG-1’s simplified approach.

Optical Zoom and Macro Capabilities - Versatility in a Waterproof Shell?

Both cameras wield the same 28-140mm equivalent zoom lens, offering a useful 5x range.

• Pentax WG-1 GPS: f/3.5-5.5 aperture; macro focus as close as 1 cm
• Ricoh PX: f/3.9-5.4 aperture; macro focus at 3 cm

The Pentax’s 1cm macro focusing lets you get extremely close to your subject, perfect for critters, textures, and intricate natural scenes where detail is king. This close focusing is impressive for such a compact outdoor camera.

On the other hand, the PX’s slightly tighter aperture and standard 3cm macro limit extreme close-ups but provide adequate versatility for general shooting.

Both lenses show some barrel distortion wide open, especially at 28mm, but it’s manageable and well-corrected in-camera.

Autofocus and Performance - How Fast and Accurate?

Both cameras utilize contrast-detection autofocus systems with nine focus points; the PX adds face detection, which comes in handy for casual portrait and street photography.

The autofocus speed on the WG-1 GPS is noticeably slower, roughly 0.8-1 second in daylight and longer in low light, whereas the Ricoh PX, with its updated imaging engine and face detection, achieves a quicker and more reliable 0.5-0.7 second lock.

Neither camera supports continuous autofocus during burst shooting, and both plateau at a sluggish 1 fps burst rate - a frustration if you're eyeing sports or wildlife action.

Manual focus is available on both cameras, ideal for tricky macro or low-contrast scenes, but you’ll miss critical assistance features like focus peaking or magnification on these models.

Prospectively, the PX’s contrast detection plus face detection grants it superiority in portraits and street photography, while the WG-1 GPS prioritizes ruggedness over speed.

Built to Last - Weather Sealing and Durability

Here lies one of the most significant dividing lines between these two models.

• Pentax WG-1 GPS is waterproof to 10 meters (33 feet), shockproof, freezeproof to -10°C, dustproof, and crushproof.
• Ricoh PX offers environmental sealing for dust and minor splashes but explicitly does not have waterproof, shockproof, crushproof, or freezeproof certifications.

Such robust weather sealing on the WG-1 GPS is rare even among modern compacts. This makes it suitable for poolside shooting, hiking in inclement weather, or snowy excursions without an extra housing.

If you value peace of mind for rough environments above everything else, the Pentax is the clear choice.

Battery and Storage - Longevity and Logistics

The WG-1 GPS runs on a D-LI92 Battery Pack delivering approximately 260 shots per charge, which is average but adequate for day-long adventures.

Ricoh PX’s supplied DB-100 battery life figures are less clear as manufacturer guidance is sparse. Anecdotally, PX users report similar endurance but fewer shots under harsh conditions.

Both cameras accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, with a single card slot and modest buffer size restricting continuous shooting performance.

Connectivity and Extras - From GPS to Wireless

The WG-1 GPS’s standout extra is its built-in GPS unit that geo-tags your photos automatically - a boon for travel diggers and expedition shooters keen on mapping photographic memories.

The PX lacks GPS and wireless features entirely but compensates with sensor-shift image stabilization - a crucial tool when shooting handheld in dimmer conditions to reduce blur - which the WG-1 GPS notably omits.

Neither camera offers Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity; both provide USB 2.0 and HDMI outputs for data transfer and playback.

The Ricoh PX also supports white balance bracketing, a feature missing on the Pentax, adding creative latitude in tricky lighting.

Video Capabilities - Basic but Handy

Both cameras record 720p HD video at 30fps using Motion JPEG format.

Though not exemplary for videographers, these models serve casual shooting with acceptable quality.

The PX supports an additional 640x480 and 320x240 video mode at 30fps and 15fps, while the WG-1 GPS offers 15fps options at the same lower resolutions.

Neither has microphone or headphone ports for audio control, and neither provides 4K options or modern codec formats.

Real-World Shot Samples - What Can You Expect?

Seeing is believing, so here are sample shots under various lighting and shooting scenarios to compare sharpness, color accuracy, and noise characteristics.

Pentax WG 1 GPS front Pentax WG 1 GPS screen back Ricoh PX front Ricoh PX screen back

• Portraits: PX’s face detection helps maintain accurate focus on eyes, yielding slightly crisper portraits with more natural skin tones. WG-1 GPS images tend to be softer with warmer tones.
• Landscapes: Both cameras capture vibrant colors, though PX holds better detail in shadows due to improved processing. WG-1 GPS struggles a little with highlight preservation on bright days.
• Macro: WG-1 GPS shines here with its 1cm focusing distance, producing intimate close-ups with pleasant background blur.
• Low Light: PX’s sensor-shift stabilization positively influences handheld shots, reducing blur at slower shutter speeds, while WG-1 GPS images get noisier and more prone to shake.
• Outdoor Harsh Conditions: WG-1 GPS’s waterproof and shockproof design lets me risk shooting in rain or rugged spots with confidence - something I’d hesitate to do with the PX.

How They Perform in Key Photography Genres

We’ve evaluated these cameras across various photographic disciplines, ranking their merits accordingly.

• Portraits: Ricoh PX edges out with face detection and manual exposure control.
• Landscape: Tie, with PX’s dynamic range slightly better but WG-1’s weather sealing a big plus.
• Wildlife: Neither ideal due to slow autofocus and low burst rate.
• Sports: Not recommended for either.
• Street: PX favored for smaller size and faster AF.
• Macro: Pentax WG-1 GPS is the winner.
• Night/Astro: PX benefits from stabilization and manual modes.
• Video: Both basic; PX minor advantage.
• Travel: WG-1 GPS due to durability and GPS tagging.
• Professional Work: Neither suited for primary use, but PX offers manual and exposure compensation.

Scoring Their Overall Strengths and Weaknesses

Synthesizing all the data, here’s how these models stack up overall in critical categories.

Final Thoughts: For Whom Are These Cameras Best?

Pentax WG-1 GPS Recommended For:

• Adventurers needing a rugged, waterproof camera for hiking, beach, snow, or water sports
• Macro enthusiasts wanting ultra-close focusing
• Travelers valuing GPS geotagging to log their journeys
• Photographers prioritizing build quality and durability over speed and image flexibility

Ricoh PX Recommended For:

• Urban shooters and street photographers wanting a compact, subtle, yet weather-resistant camera
• Portrait photographers who can benefit from face detection autofocus
• Photographers looking for manual exposure and stabilization in a compact rugged shell
• Budget-conscious buyers wanting slightly better image quality and versatility at a similar price

Wrapping Up

After extensive hands-on comparisons, it’s clear these two cameras embody different philosophies wrapped in rugged compacts.

The Pentax WG-1 GPS champions an uncompromising build that thrives in extreme environments, with macro prowess and GPS that outdoors explorers will appreciate. The trade-offs are a slower AF system, weaker low-light performance, and limited controls.

The Ricoh PX, meanwhile, balances compactness, image stabilization, and manual exposure controls in a sealed but less rugged body, delivering better image quality and focusing speed - more suited for active city photographers or casual weekend adventurers.

Neither camera can compete with today’s mirrorless or flagship compacts on sheer specs, but their reliability and straightforward handling remain valuable. Choose the Pentax if your adventures get wet and wild; lean on the Ricoh if you want subtle toughness without sacrificing control.

Choosing your next tough camera means deciding between rugged reliability and flexible image-making. I hope this detailed comparison helps you find the perfect fit for your unique shooting journeys. Safe travels and happy shooting!