Pentax WG-2 vs Sony A290

In this article, we are matching up the Pentax WG-2 and Sony A290, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the WG-2 (16MP) and the A290 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the WG-2 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The WG-2 was unveiled 21 months after the A290 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax WG-2 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the WG-2 scores against the A290 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax Optio WG-2 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The full galleries are available at Pentax WG-2 Gallery & Sony A290 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-2 has physical measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs) while the Sony A290 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check the Pentax WG-2 and Sony A290 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the WG-2 versus the A290.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the WG-2 and A290 is 91 and 66 respectively.

Quite often, its difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes just by seeing a spec sheet. The picture below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-2 and A290.

As you can see, each of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The WG-2 having a smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Pentax WG-2 will produce extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images a little more aggressively. The more recent WG-2 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.