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Pentax WG-1 vs Sony WX500

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony WX500 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
  • Revealed February 2011
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released April 2015
  • Old Model is Sony WX350
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Pentax WG-1 vs Sony WX500 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Pentax WG-1 versus Sony WX500, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Pentax and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the WG-1 (14MP) and WX500 (18MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The WG-1 was manufactured 5 years earlier than the WX500 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the WG-1 grades versus the WX500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Sony WX500

 WG-1 WX500 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Pentax WG-1

 WX500 WG-1 
ReleasedApril 2015February 2011More modern by 50 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WG-1 and Sony WX500

 WG-1 WX500 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax WG-1 features external dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Sony WX500 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

See the Pentax WG-1 versus Sony WX500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have during that time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the WG-1 compared to the WX500.

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the WG-1 and WX500 is 93 and 91 respectively.

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes only by looking at specs. The image below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-1 and WX500.

All in all, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can expect the Sony WX500 to resolve extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged WG-1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-1 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography highlights
Sony WX500 Portrait photography highlights
35
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14MP)
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
39
MP count decent (18MP)
provides face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Street photography features
Sony WX500 Street photography features
54
weather proofing
fixed screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
70
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (236 grams)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Sports photography highlights
Sony WX500 Sports photography highlights
37
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
great battery life (360 shots)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Travel photography camera
71
weather proofing
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
71
great battery life (360 per charge)
lighter than competition (236g)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
missing Timelapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Landscape photography camera
42
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
good megapixels (14MP)
weather proofing
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
49
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
great battery life (360 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-1 Vlogging advice
Sony WX500 Vlogging advice
25
fairly wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
35
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (236 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone jack
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Pentax WG-1 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-1 and Sony WX500
 Pentax Optio WG-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio WG-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-02-07 2015-04-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.90 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 157 gr (0.35 lbs) 236 gr (0.52 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 images 360 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $350 $348