Pentax WG-2 vs Sony HX300

Its time to look a little more closely at the Pentax WG-2 vs Sony HX300, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the WG-2 (16MP) and the HX300 (20MP) is fairly well matched and they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The WG-2 was revealed 12 months prior to the HX300 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax WG-2 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the WG-2 grades versus the HX300 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax Optio WG-2 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300. The full galleries are viewable at Pentax WG-2 Gallery and Sony HX300 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Pentax WG-2 features external 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) whilst the Sony HX300 has dimensions of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax WG-2 vs Sony HX300 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the WG-2 compared to the HX300.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the WG-2 and HX300 is 91 and 63 respectively.

In many cases, it is very difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes purely by looking at a spec sheet. The picture below will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-2 and HX300.

As you can see, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You should anticipate the Sony HX300 to resolve greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The more aged WG-2 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.