Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Sony NEX-5: A Decade-Apart Encounter with a Purpose

Comparing the Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS and the Sony Alpha NEX-5 is a little like juxtaposing a rugged adventurer with a nimble urban scout. Announced nearly two years apart (2010 for the Sony NEX-5, 2012 for the Pentax WG-2 GPS), these cameras come from very different families yet occasionally appeal to photographers seeking compact solutions. I’ve spent hours handling, testing, and comparing these models side by side, putting their technology and performance through real-world paces to help you clarify which one might be your next camera investment.

Body, Build and Handling: Form Follows Function

Looking at physical dimensions and weight, the Pentax WG-2 GPS is slightly larger at 122 x 61 x 30 mm and 198 g, while the Sony NEX-5 measures 111 x 59 x 38 mm and weighs 287 g. So despite the NEX-5’s larger feature set, it’s surprisingly compact - a testament to early mirrorless camera design efficiency.

But the real story emerges when you gauge their build qualities. The WG-2 GPS is purpose-built for harsh environments: waterproof (up to 12m), shockproof (1.5 meters), crushproof (100 kgf force), freezeproof (-10°C), and dustproof. That military-grade durability is rare in compacts and a boon for adventure photographers. By contrast, the Sony NEX-5, though elegantly styled in its rangefinder-inspired shape, lacks any environmental sealing, making it ill-suited for wet or dusty conditions without additional precautions.

Ergonomically, the WG-2 GPS features a simple, chunky plastic body that fits well in wet or gloved hands but lacks the refined grip or physical control finesse the NEX-5 brings. The Sony positions itself as an entry-level mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses; thus, its approach to control layout anticipates evolving shooting demands with its mode dial, Fn button, and customizable exposure settings.

In the top-down view, the Sony offers an exposure compensation dial and accessible manual controls, which photographers used to DSLRs will appreciate. The Pentax is minimalistic: no manual exposure options, fixed zoom controls, a single shutter button, and fewer dials. That’s not a flaw, rather a clear message: the WG-2 GPS is optimized for durability and ease of use in rough conditions, not manual artistic control.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: A Vast Technical Divide

Sensor technology often forms the heart of image quality, and here the Sony has a clear advantage. The WG-2 GPS employs a 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor (approximately 6.17 x 4.55 mm), delivering 16 megapixels. The NEX-5 features a significantly larger APS-C CMOS sensor (23.4 x 15.6 mm) with 14 megapixels. What does this mean in practice?

Simply put, the NEX-5’s sensor area is over 13 times larger - a substantial factor in delivering better dynamic range, lower noise, and improved low-light performance. In my controlled lab testing and field shoots, the Sony consistently outperformed the Pentax when shooting in dim environments and extended ISO sensitivities. It also renders smoother tonality transitions and deeper shadows.

The WG-2’s sensor, typical for rugged compacts of its era, delivers respectable resolution but struggles more with noise beyond ISO 400. Its anti-aliasing filter is standard, maintaining sharpness while limiting moiré, but the physical limits of the small sensor show in highlight rolloff and dynamic range compression.

Interestingly, despite having 16MP, the WG-2 has fewer post-processing options, such as RAW support (entirely absent), which reduces flexibility in recovering details or color correction in professional workflows. The Sony wins here too with full RAW capability and a mature Bionz processor that enables subtle color management and noise reduction effects in-camera or via software.

Interface and Display: Navigating with Purpose

Both cameras offer 3-inch LCDs, but their implementation and utility differ.

The WG-2 GPS incorporates a fixed widescreen TFT LCD with anti-reflective coating and 460k-dot resolution. This makes it usable outdoors, especially alongside its GPS feature that overlays geotagging info. However, the lack of touchscreen and fixed positioning somewhat hampers flexibility in composition or menu navigation in awkward angles.

Conversely, the Sony NEX-5 sports a higher resolution (920k dots) tilting LCD, providing better framing versatility - ideal for low or high-angle shots on the street or in the studio. While lacking touchscreen capability (which would arrive in later models), the tilt mechanism adds valuable creativity and ergonomic edge.

In live shooting, the NEX-5’s interface feels snappier and offers more manual control customization, consistent with its semi-professional target market. The Pentax’s menu system is straightforward but not as fluid, emphasizing quick, point-and-shoot usability in challenging conditions rather than deep granular control.

Autofocus and Performance: Responsiveness Where It Counts

Pentax’s WG-2 GPS autofocus system is contrast-detection based, with 9 focus points. It supports face detection, but lacks continuous AF or eye tracking. The single-shot AF speed is moderate but can also be slow in low light. Continuous shooting is extremely limited to 1 fps, which means it’s not a machine for action or wildlife photography - but rather for snapshots when ruggedness outweighs speed.

By contrast, the Sony NEX-5 offers 25 contrast-detection autofocus points with continuous AF tracking. In practice, this system locks focus relatively quickly and maintains focus on moving subjects with more fidelity. The 7 fps burst rate supports capturing dynamic moments in sports or wildlife to a level not possible on the WG-2.

While not sporting phase-detection or hybrid autofocus features seen in later mirrorless cameras, the NEX-5’s AF capabilities were impressive at its time and still hold up reasonably well in daylight and decent light conditions. Tracking accuracy shows minor lag in ultra-fast action, but that’s expected given the sensor and processor limitations of 2010.

The WG-2 GPS’s AF system, while reliable for static or slow subjects, does not inspire confidence for sports or wildlife photography unless you are deliberately pacing your shots.

Optical and Lens Versatility: Fixed Lens vs Expanding Arsenal

The Lens world for these cameras represents a significant contextual difference.

The Pentax WG-2 GPS features a fixed 5x zoom lens (28-140mm equivalent) with maximum apertures ranging from f/3.5 to f/5.5. Close focusing is exceptional at 1cm macro, allowing detailed close-ups that many rugged cameras can’t manage. But the lack of interchangeable lenses confines this camera strictly to its built-in lens’s capabilities, which suffer optical distortion and softness, particularly at the telephoto end.

The Sony NEX-5’s main strength lies in its compatibility with the Sony E-mount ecosystem, which even in 2010 boasted over 120 native lenses from ultra-wide to very long telephotos, including primes and zooms. This versatility allows one to tailor the lens choice for portraits, landscapes, macros, and wildlife - or mix and match third-party options.

That freedom leverages the NEX-5’s larger sensor and manual controls to produce notably higher-quality images, including creamy bokeh from fast primes thanks to their wider apertures.

For example, I used a 50mm f/1.8 prime on the NEX-5 to evaluate portrait skin tones and background blur - the results were markedly superior to the Pentax’s modest zoom.

Photography Genres: Matching Cameras to the Task

How these cameras perform across photography types is crucial for buyers.

Portraits

• Sony NEX-5: Exemplary due to large sensor, lens choice, and manual controls. Skin tone gradation is smooth and bokeh pleasant on fast primes.
• Pentax WG-2 GPS: Average; noise at high ISO can degrade portrait quality. Limited aperture range and fixed lens hinder creative control.

Landscapes

• Sony: High resolution and dynamic range, plus interchangeable wide-angle lenses make it a strong performer outdoors.
• Pentax: Modest resolution and sensor size limit detail and tonal range, but waterproofing and durability help in harsh environments.

Wildlife

• Sony: 7 fps continuous shooting, good AF tracking, and telephoto lens options favor wildlife shooters.
• Pentax: Slow 1 fps burst and fixed zoom limit use; ruggedness may aid casual wildlife observers needing a tough camera.

Sports

• Sony: Superior AF tracking and frame rates help in fast-moving subjects.
• Pentax: Not suitable for sports beyond casual snapshots.

Street Photography

• Sony: Compact and discreet, though slightly heavier. Tilting screen helps composition.
• Pentax: Bulkier and less discreet, but built to withstand harsh street elements.

Macro Photography

• Pentax: Exceptional macro at 1 cm, allowing superb close-ups.
• Sony: Depends on lens, but compatible macro lenses available.

Night/Astro Photography

• Sony: Better ISO handling, longer exposures possible with shutter speeds up to 30s; no environmental sealing.
• Pentax: Max shutter speed 1/4000, ISO tops at 6400, but noisier images limit astrophotography potential.

Video Capabilities

• Pentax: Full HD 1080p at 30fps, MPEG-4 and H.264 encoding, but no external mic support.
• Sony: Full HD 1080p at 60fps in AVCHD, no external mic, but more frame rate options.

Travel Photography

• Pentax: Hardiness and GPS aid travel documentation; robust battery.
• Sony: Smaller size, lens versatility, longer battery life (330 shots vs 260), but fragile build needs care.

Professional Use

• Sony: Suitable entry-level mirrorless for serious photographers wanting manual control and RAW workflow.
• Pentax: Primarily aimed at casual/action-oriented users needing ruggedness, less suited for pro workflows.

Pentax WG 2 GPS front Pentax WG 2 GPS screen back Sony NEX 5 front Sony NEX 5 screen back

Durability and Environmental Resistance: The Pentax Advantage

One of the WG-2 GPS’s standout features is its military-grade durability and comprehensive weather sealing. This is not just marketing fluff; I tested it underwater and in adverse conditions, and it performed flawlessly. When shooting outdoors in wet climates, or engaging in adventurous outdoor sports like kayaking, hiking, or winter sports, this camera is a reliable companion.

The Sony NEX-5 offers no such protection; dust and moisture can quickly damage its sensitive sensor and lens assemblies. If you intend to shoot in harsh or unpredictable environments, be prepared to shield this device carefully or carry protective gear.

Connectivity, Battery Life, and Storage Options

The WG-2 GPS includes built-in GPS - a boon for travel and landscape photographers who want location data automatically baked into JPEGs and videos. The Sony NEX-5 lacks GPS and wireless connectivity entirely, reflecting early mirrorless generation limitations. The Pentax supports Eye-Fi cards for limited wireless transfer, while Sony offers no wireless options by default.

Battery life favors the Sony NEX-5 modestly (approximately 330 shots per charge) versus 260 shots on the Pentax. The NEX-5’s NP-FW50 battery is more widely available and has more aftermarket options than the Pentax’s proprietary D-LI92.

Storage-wise, both cameras accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but the Sony adds Memory Stick Pro Duo compatibility, broadening usability if you own multiple media types from Sony devices.

Price-to-Performance Ratio: Which Offers More Bang for Your Buck?

At launch, the Pentax WG-2 GPS cost around $300, targeting outdoor enthusiasts needing a rugged point-and-shoot experience. The Sony NEX-5 was nearly twice as expensive at $600 but delivered mirrorless technology that ushered a new era in consumer-level interchangeable lens cameras.

From a purely technical and image quality standpoint, the Sony demands your investment if you prioritize picture quality, flexibility, and creative control. The Pentax offers a niche but compelling proposition: a camera that survives punishment and keeps snapping.

Final Thoughts: Who Should Choose Which?

I hope this deep-dive comparison has illuminated the strengths and compromises inherent in two very different cameras.

• Choose the Pentax WG-2 GPS if:

  • You need a rugged, waterproof camera for hiking, sports, and underwater adventures.
  • You prioritize durability and GPS logging over image fidelity.
  • You mostly want straightforward, point-and-shoot photography without fussing over settings.
  • Macro close-up shooting in the wild intrigues you.

• Choose the Sony NEX-5 if:

  • You want step-up image quality with APS-C sensor advantages.
  • Interchangeable lenses and manual control are part of your creative process.
  • You shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or street photography regularly.
  • You value video recording with higher frame rates and better codec support.

My personal experience with these two cameras underscores a broader truth in photography: no single camera is perfect for all situations. The Pentax WG-2 GPS can go places and survive conditions that would endanger the Sony NEX-5, but the NEX-5 can produce far superior images and offers creative control beyond the Pentax’s limited fixed-lens system.

If you’re outdoorsy, adventurous, and want a digital companion with you regardless of the elements, the Pentax is a smart, practical choice. If you lean towards image quality, lens versatility, and stepping into the mirrorless ecosystem, the Sony remains a compelling entry-level choice - especially if you can find it at good used prices.

In the end, the decision boils down to your shooting context, priorities, and the types of photography you gravitate toward.

I invite you to test both if possible, but this comparison should give you a robust framework to evaluate these cameras’ legacy and relevance to your photographic journey. Happy shooting!