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Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax WG-3

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
 
Pentax WG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax WG-3 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
  • Revealed February 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
  • Announced July 2013
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Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax WG-3 Overview

The following is a extensive overview of the Pentax WG-1 and Pentax WG-3, both Waterproof digital cameras and both are offered by Pentax. The sensor resolution of the WG-1 (14MP) and the WG-3 (16MP) is very similar and they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The WG-1 was announced 3 years prior to the WG-3 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a simple view of how the WG-1 matches up against the WG-3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Pentax WG-3

 WG-1 WG-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Pentax WG-1

 WG-3 WG-1 
AnnouncedJuly 2013February 2011Newer by 29 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WG-1 and Pentax WG-3

 WG-1 WG-3 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax WG-3 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera, you need to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-1 has got outside dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Pentax WG-3 has sizing of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

See the Pentax WG-1 and Pentax WG-3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the WG-1 against the WG-3.

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax WG-3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the WG-1 and WG-3 is 93 and 90 respectively.

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax WG-3 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax WG-3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to picture the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic underneath may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-1 and WG-3.

As you can see, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can expect to see the Pentax WG-3 to offer you greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged WG-1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax WG-3 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography details
Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography details
35
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
41
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax WG-3 as a Street photography camera
54
weather proofing
no moving screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Sports photography information
Pentax WG-3 Sports photography information
37
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Travel photography advice
Pentax WG-3 Travel photography advice
71
weather proofing
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
72
weather sealing
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery power (240 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax WG-1
Landscape photography with Pentax WG-3
42
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
54
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
weather sealing
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax WG-1
Vlogging with Pentax WG-3
25
really wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone port
36
quite wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
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Pentax WG-1 vs Pentax WG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-1 and Pentax WG-3
 Pentax Optio WG-1Pentax WG-3
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax Optio WG-1 Pentax WG-3
Type Waterproof Waterproof
Revealed 2011-02-07 2013-07-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-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 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
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) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/1500s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated 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
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 720 (60, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
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 157g (0.35 pounds) 230g (0.51 pounds)
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 shots 240 shots
Form 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 feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $350 $300