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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Sony W290

Portability
91
Imaging
38
Features
37
Overall
37
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Sony W290 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
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Introduced February 2009
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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Sony W290 Overview

Here is a comprehensive assessment of the Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Sony W290, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Pentax and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the WG-2 GPS (16MP) and W290 (12MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The WG-2 GPS was brought out 3 years later than the W290 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the WG-2 GPS grades against the W290 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 GPS over the Sony W290

 WG-2 GPS W290 
IntroducedFebruary 2012February 2009Fresher by 37 months
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Pentax WG-2 GPS

 W290 WG-2 GPS 

Common features in the Pentax WG-2 GPS and Sony W290

 WG-2 GPS W290 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-2 GPS provides external measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) and the Sony W290 has sizing of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Sony W290 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the WG-2 GPS against the W290.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Sony W290 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the WG-2 GPS and W290 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing just by viewing a spec sheet. The visual below may give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-2 GPS and W290.

Clearly, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Pentax WG-2 GPS to result in greater detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots way more aggressively. The younger WG-2 GPS provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Portrait photography features
Sony W290 Portrait photography features
39
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
27
has manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Street photography advice
Sony W290 Street photography advice
54
weather sealing
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Sports photography camera
Sony W290 as a Sports photography camera
37
decent megapixels (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather sealing
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Travel photography information
Sony W290 Travel photography information
70
weather sealing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
57
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Landscape photography features
Sony W290 Landscape photography features
47
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
41
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Vlogging camera
Sony W290 as a Vlogging camera
30
reasonably wide (28mm)
comes with face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
missing external mic jack
28
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-2 GPS and Sony W290
 Pentax Optio WG-2 GPSSony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-02-07 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.40 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 198g (0.44 lb) 167g (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" 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 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI92 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $300 $230