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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung SL30

Portability
91
Imaging
38
Features
37
Overall
37
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS front
 
Samsung SL30 front
Portability
95
Imaging
32
Features
14
Overall
24

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung SL30 Key Specs

Pentax WG-2 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 198g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Released February 2012
Samsung SL30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 140g - 94 x 61 x 23mm
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Also Known as ES15
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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung SL30 Overview

Here is a complete comparison of the Pentax WG-2 GPS and Samsung SL30, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Samsung. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the WG-2 GPS (16MP) and SL30 (10MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The WG-2 GPS was announced 3 years later than the SL30 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the WG-2 GPS scores versus the SL30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 GPS over the Samsung SL30

 WG-2 GPS SL30 
IntroducedFebruary 2012February 2009Fresher by 37 months
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung SL30 over the Pentax WG-2 GPS

 SL30 WG-2 GPS 

Common features in the Pentax WG-2 GPS and Samsung SL30

 WG-2 GPS SL30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung SL30 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Pentax WG-2 GPS features physical measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) while the Samsung SL30 has specifications of 94mm x 61mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 140 grams (0.31 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax WG-2 GPS and Samsung SL30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the WG-2 GPS vs the SL30.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung SL30 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the WG-2 GPS and SL30 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung SL30 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung SL30 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizing purely by going over a spec sheet. The graphic underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-2 GPS and SL30.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Pentax WG-2 GPS to deliver more detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more modern WG-2 GPS should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung SL30 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung SL30 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung SL30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Portrait photography features
Samsung SL30 Portrait photography features
39
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
features face detection autofocus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
24
offers face detect focusing
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Street photography details
Samsung SL30 Street photography details
54
environment proof
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
47
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Sports photography camera
Samsung SL30 as a Sports photography camera
37
good MP (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
max fps low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
16
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax WG-2 GPS
Travel photography with Samsung SL30
70
environment proof
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
does not feature selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Landscape photography details
Samsung SL30 Landscape photography details
47
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good MP (16MP)
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
22
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5")
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Vlogging details
Samsung SL30 Vlogging details
30
fairly wide (28mm)
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
does not have external mic port
25
offers face detect focusing
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung SL30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-2 GPS and Samsung SL30
 Pentax Optio WG-2 GPSSamsung SL30
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Samsung
Model type Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS Samsung SL30
Otherwise known as - ES15
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-02-07 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 38-114mm (3.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/2.8-5.7
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.40 m 4.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Auto & Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Fill-in Flash, Flash Off, Red-Eye Fix
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 800 x 592 (20 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 198 grams (0.44 pounds) 140 grams (0.31 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") 94 x 61 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9")
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 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI92 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $300 $93