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Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax Q

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
 
Pentax Q front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax Q Key Specs

Pentax WG-1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced February 2011
Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Announced June 2011
  • Replacement is Pentax Q10
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Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax Q Overview

Let's look closer at the Pentax WG-1 and Pentax Q, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are offered by Pentax. The sensor resolution of the WG-1 (14MP) and the Q (12MP) is relatively comparable and both cameras have the same sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The WG-1 was announced 4 months prior to the Q and they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras have different body design with the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short overview of how the WG-1 scores vs the Q with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Pentax Q

 WG-1 Q 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Pentax WG-1

 Q WG-1 
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WG-1 and Pentax Q

 WG-1 Q 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011June 2011Same generation
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax Q Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Pentax WG-1 has external measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Pentax Q has dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

Compare the Pentax WG-1 and Pentax Q in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the WG-1 versus the Q.

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax Q size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the WG-1 and Q is 93 and 93 respectively.

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax Q top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax Q Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to see the difference in sensor sizing simply by going through specs. The visual below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-1 and Q.

All in all, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Pentax WG-1 to produce greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively.

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax Q sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax Q Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax Q Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography information
Pentax Q Portrait photography information
35
focusing manually
good resolution (14MP)
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
45
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
saves RAW files
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax Q as a Street photography camera
54
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition in class (180g)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax WG-1
Sports photography with Pentax Q
37
good resolution (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
31
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (230 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Travel photography features
Pentax Q Travel photography features
71
environment sealing
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
57
lighter than competition in class (180 grams)
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery (230 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax WG-1
Landscape photography with Pentax Q
42
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
good resolution (14MP)
environment sealing
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
51
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax Q mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW files
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (230 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Vlogging features
Pentax Q Vlogging features
25
quite wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone jack
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (180g)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone socket
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Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax Q Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-1 and Pentax Q
 Pentax Optio WG-1Pentax Q
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax Optio WG-1 Pentax Q
Category Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-02-07 2011-06-23
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 8
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.90 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 157 gr (0.35 lbs) 180 gr (0.40 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 47
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.1
DXO Low light score not tested 189
Other
Battery life 260 pictures 230 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $350 $695