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Pentax WG-1 vs Sony A900

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
31
Overall
34
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 front
Portability
54
Imaging
66
Features
62
Overall
64

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony A900 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
Sony A900
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Introduced October 2008
  • New Model is Sony A99
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Pentax WG-1 vs Sony A900 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Pentax WG-1 vs Sony A900, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the WG-1 (14MP) and A900 (25MP) and the WG-1 (1/2.3") and A900 (Full frame) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The WG-1 was announced 2 years after the A900 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A900 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief summation of how the WG-1 matches up versus the A900 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Sony A900

 WG-1 A900 
IntroducedFebruary 2011October 2008More modern by 28 months

Reasons to pick Sony A900 over the Pentax WG-1

 A900 WG-1 
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WG-1 and Sony A900

 WG-1 A900 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony A900 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera, you should consider its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-1 has physical measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Sony A900 has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") having a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

See the Pentax WG-1 vs Sony A900 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the WG-1 versus the A900.

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony A900 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the WG-1 and A900 is 93 and 54 respectively.

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony A900 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony A900 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizes just by going through technical specs. The image below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-1 and A900.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The WG-1 having a smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony A900 will produce more detail with its extra 11 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more recent WG-1 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony A900 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony A900 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony A900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography details
Sony A900 Portrait photography details
34
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
71
manual focus
high megapixels (25MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Street photography highlights
Sony A900 Street photography highlights
54
weather proof
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Sports photography information
Sony A900 Sports photography information
36
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
weather proof
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
high megapixels (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Travel photography highlights
Sony A900 Travel photography highlights
71
weather proof
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
54
weather sealing
high megapixels (25MP)
no Timelapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography information
Sony A900 Landscape photography information
41
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
72
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
high megapixels (25MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
no liveview
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax WG-1
Vlogging with Sony A900
25
rather wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone socket
9
can't shoot video
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Pentax WG-1 vs Sony A900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-1 and Sony A900
 Pentax Optio WG-1Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio WG-1 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Type Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2011-02-07 2008-10-22
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 6048 x 4032
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.90 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/250 seconds
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) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 157 gr (0.35 pounds) 895 gr (1.97 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 1431
Other
Battery life 260 pictures 880 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Storage slots 1 2
Pricing at release $350 $2,736