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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax WG-3

Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS front
 
Pentax WG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax WG-3 Key Specs

Pentax WG-2 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 198g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Released February 2012
Pentax WG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Released July 2013
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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax WG-3 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax WG-3, both Waterproof cameras and both of them are built by Pentax. The resolution of the WG-2 GPS (16MP) and the WG-3 (16MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras have the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The WG-2 GPS was brought out 17 months earlier than the WG-3 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a brief summation of how the WG-2 GPS grades vs the WG-3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 GPS over the Pentax WG-3

 WG-2 GPS WG-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Pentax WG-2 GPS

 WG-3 WG-2 GPS 
ReleasedJuly 2013February 2012Newer by 17 months

Common features in the Pentax WG-2 GPS and Pentax WG-3

 WG-2 GPS WG-3 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax WG-3 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax WG-2 GPS has physical measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) and the Pentax WG-3 has measurements of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Check out the Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax WG-3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the WG-2 GPS versus the WG-3.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax WG-3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the WG-2 GPS and WG-3 is 91 and 90 respectively.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax WG-3 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax WG-3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions only by going through technical specs. The picture here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-2 GPS and WG-3.

As you can tell, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same MP and you should expect comparable quality of images however you will need to factor the production date of the cameras into account. The more aged WG-2 GPS will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax WG-3 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Portrait photography factors
Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography factors
40
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
no manual mode
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
41
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect focusing
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Street photography advice
Pentax WG-3 Street photography advice
54
environment sealing
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Sports photography advice
Pentax WG-3 Sports photography advice
38
decent megapixels (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
low fps (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (240 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Travel photography information
Pentax WG-3 Travel photography information
70
environment sealing
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
72
weather proofing
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
bad battery life (240 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Landscape photography features
Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography features
47
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
54
has manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
weather proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery life (240 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Vlogging factors
Pentax WG-3 Vlogging factors
30
reasonably wide (28mm)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
lack of external mic socket
36
relatively wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly display
does not have microphone support
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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Pentax WG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-2 GPS and Pentax WG-3
 Pentax Optio WG-2 GPSPentax WG-3
General Information
Company Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS Pentax WG-3
Type Waterproof Waterproof
Released 2012-02-07 2013-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 125 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
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)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.40 m 3.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 198 gr (0.44 lb) 230 gr (0.51 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3")
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 240 photos
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 shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $300 $300