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Pentax WG-2 vs Sony A65

Portability
91
Imaging
38
Features
37
Overall
37
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
 
Sony SLT-A65 front
Portability
64
Imaging
62
Features
85
Overall
71

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony A65 Key Specs

Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Announced February 2012
Sony A65
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 622g - 132 x 97 x 81mm
  • Introduced November 2011
  • Later Model is Sony A68
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Pentax WG-2 vs Sony A65 Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Pentax WG-2 versus Sony A65, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Pentax and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the WG-2 (16MP) and A65 (24MP) and the WG-2 (1/2.3") and A65 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The WG-2 was launched 3 months after the A65 which means that they are of a similar age. The two cameras come with different body type with the Pentax WG-2 being a Compact camera and the Sony A65 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the WG-2 grades against the A65 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Sony A65

 WG-2 A65 

Reasons to pick Sony A65 over the Pentax WG-2

 A65 WG-2 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Pentax WG-2 and Sony A65

 WG-2 A65 
IntroducedFebruary 2012November 2011Same age
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Touch display No Touch display

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony A65 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-2 has got exterior dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs) and the Sony A65 has sizing of 132mm x 97mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") with a weight of 622 grams (1.37 lbs).

Check out the Pentax WG-2 versus Sony A65 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at the time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the WG-2 and the A65.

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony A65 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the WG-2 and A65 is 91 and 64 respectively.

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony A65 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony A65 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes simply by looking through specifications. The picture below should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-2 and A65.

To sum up, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The WG-2 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh tougher and the Sony A65 will render extra detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics much more aggressively.

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony A65 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony A65 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-2 vs Sony A65 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography advice
Sony A65 Portrait photography advice
39
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
77
has manual focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Street photography info
Sony A65 Street photography info
54
environment proof
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
76
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Sports photography details
Sony A65 Sports photography details
37
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proof
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
81
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
supports phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax WG-2
Travel photography with Sony A65
70
environment proof
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
68
good MP (24MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A65 Landscape photography highlights
47
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
74
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Vlogging advice
Sony A65 Vlogging advice
30
quite wide (28mm)
provides face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no external microphone socket
78
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic support
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Pentax WG-2 vs Sony A65 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-2 and Sony A65
 Pentax Optio WG-2Sony SLT-A65
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio WG-2 Sony SLT-A65
Category Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2012-02-07 2011-11-15
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.40 m 10.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 192g (0.42 lbs) 622g (1.37 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") 132 x 97 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 74
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 717
Other
Battery life 260 shots 560 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $350 $700