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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung SL720

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 GPS front
 
Samsung SL720 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung SL720 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
  • Released July 2013
Samsung SL720
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-102mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 168g - 92 x 61 x 23mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Also referred to as PL70
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung SL720 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Pentax WG-3 GPS versus Samsung SL720, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Ultracompact by companies Pentax and Samsung. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the WG-3 GPS (16MP) and SL720 (12MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The WG-3 GPS was revealed 4 years after the SL720 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Pentax WG-3 GPS being a Compact camera and the Samsung SL720 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the WG-3 GPS matches up vs the SL720 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 GPS over the Samsung SL720

 WG-3 GPS SL720 
ReleasedJuly 2013July 2009More modern by 49 months
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung SL720 over the Pentax WG-3 GPS

 SL720 WG-3 GPS 

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 GPS and Samsung SL720

 WG-3 GPS SL720 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung SL720 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-3 GPS features external dimensions 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 Samsung SL720 has sizing of 92mm x 61mm x 23mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") along with a weight of 168 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Pentax WG-3 GPS versus Samsung SL720 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the WG-3 GPS vs the SL720.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung SL720 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 GPS and SL720 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung SL720 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung SL720 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizes only by researching specifications. The pic here might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-3 GPS and SL720.

Plainly, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Pentax WG-3 GPS to render greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more recent WG-3 GPS will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung SL720 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung SL720 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung SL720 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Portrait photography highlights
Samsung SL720 Portrait photography highlights
41
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
has face detect focusing
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
21
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Street photography features
Samsung SL720 Street photography features
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
more heavy than others (238 grams)
47
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than competitors (168g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax WG-3 GPS
Sports photography with Samsung SL720
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (240 shots)
no phase detect AF
17
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax WG-3 GPS
Travel photography with Samsung SL720
69
weather sealing
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
terrible battery life (240 CIPA)
more heavy than others (238 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
56
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (168g)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Landscape photography information
Samsung SL720 Landscape photography information
54
you can focus manually
pretty wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
weather sealing
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
no manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
terrible battery life (240 shots)
27
decently wide (28mm)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax WG-3 GPS
Vlogging with Samsung SL720
34
pretty wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
missing microphone jack
more heavy than others (238g)
25
decently wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
no external microphone port
more heavy than competitors (168g)
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung SL720 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 GPS and Samsung SL720
 Pentax WG-3 GPSSamsung SL720
General Information
Company Pentax Samsung
Model type Pentax WG-3 GPS Samsung SL720
Otherwise known as - PL70
Class Waterproof Ultracompact
Released 2013-07-19 2009-07-14
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 28-102mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-5.7
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1500 secs
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.40 m 4.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) 800 x 592 (20 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 238 gr (0.52 lbs) 168 gr (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 92 x 61 x 23mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI92 SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $350 $119