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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR II

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 GPS front
 
Ricoh GR II front
Portability
89
Imaging
59
Features
55
Overall
57

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR II Key Specs

Pentax WG-3 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 238g - 125 x 64 x 33mm
  • Launched July 2013
Ricoh GR II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28mm (F2.8-16.0) lens
  • 251g - 117 x 63 x 35mm
  • Launched June 2015
  • Superseded the Ricoh GR
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR II Overview

Its time to look closer at the Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR II, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Pentax and Ricoh. The sensor resolution of the WG-3 GPS (16MP) and the GR II (16MP) is relatively similar but the WG-3 GPS (1/2.3") and GR II (APS-C) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The WG-3 GPS was manufactured 23 months before the GR II which makes them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Pentax WG-3 GPS being a Compact camera and the Ricoh GR II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a short overview of how the WG-3 GPS scores vs the GR II in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 GPS over the Ricoh GR II

 WG-3 GPS GR II 

Reasons to pick Ricoh GR II over the Pentax WG-3 GPS

 GR II WG-3 GPS 
LaunchedJune 2015July 2013More recent by 23 months
Screen resolution1230k460kCrisper screen (+770k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 GPS and Ricoh GR II

 WG-3 GPS GR II 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and measurements. The Pentax WG-3 GPS has exterior dimensions of 125mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 238 grams (0.52 lbs) whilst the Ricoh GR II has proportions of 117mm x 63mm x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs).

Look at the Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR II in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the WG-3 GPS vs the GR II.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR II size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the WG-3 GPS and GR II is 90 and 89 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR II top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR II Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reading specs. The graphic here may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-3 GPS and GR II.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras provide the same resolution albeit not the same sensor measurements. The WG-3 GPS contains the tinier sensor which should make achieving shallow DOF tougher. The older WG-3 GPS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR II sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR II Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Portrait photography info
Ricoh GR II Portrait photography info
41
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
provides face detect autofocus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
75
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax WG-3 GPS
Street photography with Ricoh GR II
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
heavier than competitors (238g)
74
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than average in class (251g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS as a Sports photography camera
Ricoh GR II as a Sports photography camera
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery (240 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
50
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
can't change focal length (28mm)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax WG-3 GPS
Travel photography with Ricoh GR II
69
weather proofing
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
low battery (240 CIPA)
heavier than competitors (238g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
67
lighter than average in class (251g)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax WG-3 GPS
Landscape photography with Ricoh GR II
54
focusing manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
low battery (240 CIPA)
59
focusing manually
good sized screen (3")
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax WG-3 GPS
Vlogging with Ricoh GR II
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing mic jack
heavier than competitors (238g)
32
offers face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (251 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no external mic port
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 GPS and Ricoh GR II
 Pentax WG-3 GPSRicoh GR II
General Information
Make Pentax Ricoh
Model Pentax WG-3 GPS Ricoh GR II
Class Waterproof Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-07-19 2015-06-17
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - GR Engine V
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 28mm (1x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-16.0
Macro focus range 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 1,230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 300 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.40 m 3.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, Flash On, Flash Synchro., Manual Flash, Red-Eye Flash Auto, Red-Eye Flash On, Red-Eye Flash Synchro, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 238g (0.52 lb) 251g (0.55 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 117 x 63 x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1078
Other
Battery life 240 pictures 320 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 DB-65
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $350 $599