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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR III

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 GPS front
 
Ricoh GR III front
Portability
90
Imaging
69
Features
62
Overall
66

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR III Key Specs

Pentax WG-3 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 238g - 125 x 64 x 33mm
  • Revealed July 2013
Ricoh GR III
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 102400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28mm (F2.8-16) lens
  • 257g - 109 x 62 x 33mm
  • Launched September 2018
  • Replaced the Ricoh GR III
  • Updated by Ricoh GR III
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR III Overview

Below is a detailed overview of the Pentax WG-3 GPS and Ricoh GR III, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Ricoh. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the WG-3 GPS (16MP) and GR III (24MP) and the WG-3 GPS (1/2.3") and GR III (APS-C) provide different sensor measurements.

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The WG-3 GPS was launched 6 years before the GR III and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax WG-3 GPS being a Compact camera and the Ricoh GR III being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a simple summary of how the WG-3 GPS grades against the GR III with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 WG-3 GPS GR III 

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

 GR III WG-3 GPS 
LaunchedSeptember 2018July 2013More recent by 63 months
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 WG-3 GPS GR III 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR III Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera often, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax WG-3 GPS provides outside measurements of 125mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 238 grams (0.52 lbs) whilst the Ricoh GR III has dimensions of 109mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 257 grams (0.57 lbs).

Examine the Pentax WG-3 GPS and Ricoh GR III in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the WG-3 GPS versus the GR III.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR III size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the WG-3 GPS and GR III is 90 and 90 respectively.

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

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR III Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to picture the difference in sensor measurements purely by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic underneath may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-3 GPS and GR III.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The WG-3 GPS because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Ricoh GR III will produce more detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older WG-3 GPS will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

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

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

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Portrait photography details
Ricoh GR III Portrait photography details
41
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
features face detect focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
81
you can focus manually
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS as a Street photography camera
Ricoh GR III as a Street photography camera
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than competition in class (238g)
84
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
includes focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (257 grams)
above average high ISO (102,400)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Sports photography features
Ricoh GR III Sports photography features
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
environment sealing
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery (240 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
76
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
has phase detect autofocus
fixed focal length (28mm)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Travel photography highlights
Ricoh GR III Travel photography highlights
69
environment sealing
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
low battery (240 shots)
heavier than competition in class (238 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competition in class (257g)
includes focus by touch
MP count decent (24MP)
no Time Lapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Landscape photography factors
Ricoh GR III Landscape photography factors
54
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
low battery (240 shots)
69
you can focus manually
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
above average high ISO (102,400)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS as a Vlogging camera
Ricoh GR III as a Vlogging camera
34
fairly wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic jack
heavier than competition in class (238 grams)
37
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (257g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no mic socket
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh GR III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 GPS and Ricoh GR III
 Pentax WG-3 GPSRicoh GR III
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Ricoh
Model Pentax WG-3 GPS Ricoh GR III
Type Waterproof Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-07-19 2018-09-25
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 102400
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 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
Macro focus range 1cm 6cm
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.40 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, Flash On, Flash On+Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Slow Sync+Red-eye
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 238g (0.52 lbs) 257g (0.57 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 109 x 62 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 240 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI92 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal Internal, SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Card slots One One
Price at release $350 $900