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Pentax WG-10 vs Sony S980

Portability
93
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36
Pentax WG-10 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Pentax WG-10 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Pentax WG-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 167g - 116 x 59 x 29mm
  • Launched June 2013
Sony S980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Released February 2009
Photography Glossary

Pentax WG-10 vs Sony S980 Overview

In this article, we will be contrasting the Pentax WG-10 versus Sony S980, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the WG-10 (14MP) and the S980 (12MP) is pretty comparable and they use the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The WG-10 was introduced 4 years after the S980 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the WG-10 matches up vs the S980 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-10 over the Sony S980

 WG-10 S980 
ReleasedJune 2013February 2009More modern by 53 months

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Pentax WG-10

 S980 WG-10 

Common features in the Pentax WG-10 and Sony S980

 WG-10 S980 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Pentax WG-10 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax WG-10 provides outer dimensions of 116mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax WG-10 versus Sony S980 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the WG-10 against the S980.

Pentax WG-10 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the WG-10 and S980 is 93 and 94 respectively.

Pentax WG-10 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-10 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizes simply by checking out specifications. The picture here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-10 and S980.

Plainly, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You can expect the Pentax WG-10 to produce more detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The younger WG-10 provides an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax WG-10 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-10 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-10 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-10 Portrait photography highlights
Sony S980 Portrait photography highlights
39
you can focus manually
MP count decent (14MP)
has face detection autofocus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
27
manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-10 Street photography advice
Sony S980 Street photography advice
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
47
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-10 Sports photography information
Sony S980 Sports photography information
44
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
max fps very slow (0.7 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
17
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax WG-10
Travel photography with Sony S980
71
environment sealing
MP count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax WG-10
Landscape photography with Sony S980
47
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
27
manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-10 Vlogging highlights
Sony S980 Vlogging highlights
30
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic support
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
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Pentax WG-10 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-10 and Sony S980
 Pentax WG-10Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax WG-10 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-06-21 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing 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 images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 2 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 0.7 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 1.20 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 167 gr (0.37 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 116 x 59 x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI92 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at launch $0 $300