Pentax WS80 vs Sony A33

Below is a thorough overview of the Pentax WS80 vs Sony A33, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Pentax and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the WS80 (10MP) and A33 (14MP) and the WS80 (1/2.3") and A33 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The WS80 was launched 12 months prior to the A33 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras come with different body type with the Pentax WS80 being a Compact camera and the Sony A33 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise view of how the WS80 scores versus the A33 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax Optio WS80 and Sony SLT-A33. The complete galleries are viewable at Pentax WS80 Gallery and Sony A33 Gallery.

For those who are planning to lug around your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax WS80 features physical dimensions 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 A33 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Examine the Pentax WS80 vs Sony A33 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the WS80 vs the A33.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the WS80 and A33 is 95 and 67 respectively.

Usually, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements just by viewing technical specs. The photograph below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the WS80 and A33.

As you have seen, both of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The WS80 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A33 will render more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older WS80 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.