Pentax WG-10 vs Sony a1

The following is a extended overview of the Pentax WG-10 and Sony a1, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Pentax and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the WG-10 (14MP) and a1 (50MP) and the WG-10 (1/2.3") and a1 (Full frame) provide totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The WG-10 was introduced 8 years prior to the a1 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax WG-10 being a Compact camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the WG-10 matches up versus the a1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax WG-10 and Sony Alpha a1. The whole galleries are available at Pentax WG-10 Gallery and Sony a1 Gallery.

When you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Pentax WG-10 has got outer dimensions of 116mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Sony a1 has specifications of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

See the Pentax WG-10 and Sony a1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the WG-10 compared to the a1.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the WG-10 and a1 is 93 and 61 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to see the difference between sensor dimensions only by looking at technical specs. The image underneath will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-10 and a1.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The WG-10 having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Sony a1 will give extra detail using its extra 36MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged WG-10 is going to be behind in sensor technology.