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Pentax WG-2 vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Pentax WG-2 vs Pentax Q-S1 Key Specs

Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Revealed February 2012
Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Launched August 2014
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Pentax WG-2 vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Pentax WG-2 vs Pentax Q-S1, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are designed by Pentax. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the WG-2 (16MP) and Q-S1 (12MP) and the WG-2 (1/2.3") and Q-S1 (1/1.7") boast different sensor measurements.

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The WG-2 was launched 3 years earlier than the Q-S1 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax WG-2 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief overview of how the WG-2 scores vs the Q-S1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Pentax Q-S1

 WG-2 Q-S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Pentax WG-2

 Q-S1 WG-2 
LaunchedAugust 2014February 2012Fresher by 30 months

Common features in the Pentax WG-2 and Pentax Q-S1

 WG-2 Q-S1 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Pentax WG-2 vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Pentax WG-2 has outside dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q-S1 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax WG-2 vs Pentax Q-S1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the WG-2 and the Q-S1.

Pentax WG-2 vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the WG-2 and Q-S1 is 91 and 92 respectively.

Pentax WG-2 vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-2 vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing simply by checking out a spec sheet. The visual underneath may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-2 and Q-S1.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The WG-2 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax WG-2 will provide more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older WG-2 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax WG-2 vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-2 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-2 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography factors
Pentax Q-S1 Portrait photography factors
40
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
provides face detect focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
46
manual focus
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Street photography information
Pentax Q-S1 Street photography information
54
weather proofing
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
lighter than others (203 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Sports photography info
Pentax Q-S1 Sports photography info
38
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
37
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
terrible battery life (250 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-2 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Travel photography camera
70
weather proofing
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
60
lighter than others (203 grams)
has built in flash
terrible battery life (250 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-2 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Landscape photography camera
47
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
MP count decent (16MP)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
55
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
terrible battery life (250 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-2 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Vlogging camera
30
pretty wide (28mm)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
lack of mic support
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (203 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
missing mic port
Photography Glossary

Pentax WG-2 vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-2 and Pentax Q-S1
 Pentax Optio WG-2Pentax Q-S1
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax Optio WG-2 Pentax Q-S1
Type Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-02-07 2014-08-04
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Q Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Total lenses - 8
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.40 m 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
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 None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 192 gr (0.42 pounds) 203 gr (0.45 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" 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 shots 250 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $350 $250