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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung NX5

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 GPS front
 
Samsung NX5 front
Portability
80
Imaging
55
Features
50
Overall
53

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung NX5 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
  • Released July 2013
Samsung NX5
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 499g - 123 x 87 x 40mm
  • Launched June 2010
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung NX5 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Pentax WG-3 GPS and Samsung NX5, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Pentax and Samsung. The resolution of the WG-3 GPS (16MP) and the NX5 (15MP) is very comparable but the WG-3 GPS (1/2.3") and NX5 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The WG-3 GPS was revealed 3 years after the NX5 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax WG-3 GPS being a Compact camera and the Samsung NX5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the WG-3 GPS matches up vs the NX5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 GPS over the Samsung NX5

 WG-3 GPS NX5 
LaunchedJuly 2013June 2010More modern by 39 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung NX5 over the Pentax WG-3 GPS

 NX5 WG-3 GPS 

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 GPS and Samsung NX5

 WG-3 GPS NX5 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung NX5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Pentax WG-3 GPS enjoys external dimensions of 125mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 238 grams (0.52 lbs) while the Samsung NX5 has dimensions of 123mm x 87mm x 40mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 1.6") along with a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check out the Pentax WG-3 GPS and Samsung NX5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the WG-3 GPS and the NX5.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung NX5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 GPS and NX5 is 90 and 80 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung NX5 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung NX5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes just by going through a spec sheet. The picture here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-3 GPS and NX5.

As you can see, both the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The WG-3 GPS having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Pentax WG-3 GPS will produce more detail because of its extra 1MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more modern WG-3 GPS provides an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung NX5 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung NX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung NX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3 GPS
Portrait photography with Samsung NX5
41
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
73
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Street photography information
Samsung NX5 Street photography information
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than others (238 grams)
60
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (499g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Sports photography highlights
Samsung NX5 Sports photography highlights
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
52
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great battery (400 shots)
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Travel photography factors
Samsung NX5 Travel photography factors
69
environment sealing
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery power (240 shots)
more heavy than others (238g)
display is not selfie friendly
63
great battery (400 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (499 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax WG-3 GPS
Landscape photography with Samsung NX5
54
manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery power (240 shots)
68
has manual focus
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
great battery (400 shots)
does not have image stabilization
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Vlogging advice
Samsung NX5 Vlogging advice
34
relatively wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than others (238 grams)
24
provides face detect autofocus
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone support
more heavy than average in class (499g)
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung NX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 GPS and Samsung NX5
 Pentax WG-3 GPSSamsung NX5
General Information
Brand Pentax Samsung
Model type Pentax WG-3 GPS Samsung NX5
Category Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2013-07-19 2010-06-01
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - DRIM Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 15
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Samsung NX
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 32
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating Active Matrix OLED screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate - 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.40 m 11.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone 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 BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 238g (0.52 pounds) 499g (1.10 pounds)
Dimensions 125 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 123 x 87 x 40mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 240 photographs 400 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $350 $499