Pentax WS80 vs Sony W730

In this write-up, we will be matching up the Pentax WS80 and Sony W730, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There exists a big gap between the resolutions of the WS80 (10MP) and W730 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The WS80 was revealed 4 years prior to the W730 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the WS80 grades vs the W730 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax Optio WS80 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730. The full galleries are viewable at Pentax WS80 Gallery and Sony W730 Gallery.

If you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax WS80 offers outside measurements of 92mm x 60mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Sony W730 has measurements of 93mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") with a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check the Pentax WS80 and Sony W730 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the WS80 compared to the W730.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the WS80 and W730 is 95 and 96 respectively.

Quite often, it is very difficult to see the difference between sensor dimensions purely by checking technical specs. The picture underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the WS80 and W730.

As you can tell, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Sony W730 to give you more detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged WS80 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.