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Pentax WG-2 vs Sony W230

Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony W230 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
  • Announced February 2012
Sony W230
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Launched February 2009
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Pentax WG-2 vs Sony W230 Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Pentax WG-2 vs Sony W230, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the WG-2 (16MP) and W230 (12MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The WG-2 was announced 3 years after the W230 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short overview of how the WG-2 matches up versus the W230 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Sony W230

 WG-2 W230 
LaunchedFebruary 2012February 2009Newer by 37 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Pentax WG-2

 W230 WG-2 

Common features in the Pentax WG-2 and Sony W230

 WG-2 W230 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-2 has got external dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs) while the Sony W230 has sizing of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax WG-2 vs Sony W230 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the WG-2 versus the W230.

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony W230 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the WG-2 and W230 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing specs. The image underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-2 and W230.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Pentax WG-2 to offer you more detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The fresher WG-2 provides an edge in sensor technology.

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-2 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W230 as a Portrait photography camera
40
manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
27
has manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Street photography highlights
Sony W230 Street photography highlights
54
environment proofing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-2 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W230 as a Sports photography camera
38
MP count decent (16MP)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Travel photography advice
Sony W230 Travel photography advice
70
environment proofing
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (30mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Landscape photography advice
Sony W230 Landscape photography advice
47
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
36
has manual focus
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Vlogging features
Sony W230 Vlogging features
30
reasonably wide (28mm)
provides face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have mic support
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
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Pentax WG-2 vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-2 and Sony W230
 Pentax Optio WG-2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio WG-2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-02-07 2009-02-17
Physical type 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 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 30-120mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/2.8-5.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 1 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.40 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 192 grams (0.42 lbs) 156 grams (0.34 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI92 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $350 $180