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Pentax WG-1 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Pentax WG-1
(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
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched February 2011
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony HX10V
  • Successor is Sony HX30V
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Pentax WG-1 vs Sony HX20V Overview

The following is a detailed comparison of the Pentax WG-1 versus Sony HX20V, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Pentax and Sony. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the WG-1 (14MP) and HX20V (18MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The WG-1 was announced 17 months prior to the HX20V which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a short highlight of how the WG-1 matches up vs the HX20V with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Sony HX20V

 WG-1 HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Pentax WG-1

 HX20V WG-1 
IntroducedJuly 2012February 2011Newer by 17 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WG-1 and Sony HX20V

 WG-1 HX20V 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-1 features outside dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony HX20V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax WG-1 versus Sony HX20V in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select during that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the WG-1 vs the HX20V.

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the WG-1 and HX20V is 93 and 90 respectively.

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by looking at specifications. The image underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-1 and HX20V.

Plainly, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You should expect the Sony HX20V to give greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged WG-1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography details
Sony HX20V Portrait photography details
35
manual focus
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
45
manual focus
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax WG-1
Street photography with Sony HX20V
54
weather sealing
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (254g)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Sports photography information
Sony HX20V Sports photography information
37
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax WG-1
Travel photography with Sony HX20V
71
weather sealing
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
69
lighter than others (254g)
decent megapixels (18MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
no Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax WG-1
Landscape photography with Sony HX20V
42
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
50
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Vlogging information
Sony HX20V Vlogging information
25
reasonably wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone support
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (254 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no mic jack
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Pentax WG-1 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-1 and Sony HX20V
 Pentax Optio WG-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio WG-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-02-07 2012-07-20
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.90 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 157 gr (0.35 lbs) 254 gr (0.56 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos 320 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $350 $397