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Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Pentax WG-1 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 167g - 116 x 59 x 29mm
  • Revealed August 2011
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-5N
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Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Following is a extended overview of the Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Sony NEX-5, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the WG-1 GPS (14MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is very close but the WG-1 GPS (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The WG-1 GPS was revealed 15 months after the NEX-5 making them a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax WG-1 GPS being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a concise view of how the WG-1 GPS grades vs the NEX-5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 GPS over the Sony NEX-5

 WG-1 GPS NEX-5 
AnnouncedAugust 2011June 2010More modern by 15 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Pentax WG-1 GPS

 NEX-5 WG-1 GPS 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WG-1 GPS and Sony NEX-5

 WG-1 GPS NEX-5 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Pentax WG-1 GPS provides external measurements of 116mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

See the Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Sony NEX-5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at the time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the WG-1 GPS vs the NEX-5.

Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the WG-1 GPS and NEX-5 is 93 and 89 respectively.

Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes purely by viewing specs. The pic here may give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-1 GPS and NEX-5.

All in all, both cameras provide the same MP but not the same sensor sizes. The WG-1 GPS has the smaller sensor which should make getting shallow depth of field trickier. The younger WG-1 GPS will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-1 GPS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Portrait photography camera
35
focusing manually
decent MP (14 megapixels)
no manual control
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
72
focusing manually
decent MP (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax WG-1 GPS
Street photography with Sony NEX-5
54
weather sealing
fixed screen
no image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
76
screen tilts
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-1 GPS Sports photography details
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography details
37
decent MP (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
52
decent MP (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-1 GPS Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography highlights
71
weather sealing
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
59
decent MP (14MP)
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-1 GPS Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography highlights
42
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
decent MP (14MP)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
no image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
68
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3")
decent MP (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-1 GPS as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Vlogging camera
25
rather wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone jack
28
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have external mic port
Photography Glossary

Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-1 GPS and Sony NEX-5
 Pentax Optio WG-1 GPSSony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS Sony Alpha NEX-5
Category Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-08-16 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1500s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.90 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 167 grams (0.37 lb) 287 grams (0.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 116 x 59 x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 69
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 796
Other
Battery life 260 shots 330 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $350 $599