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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung TL500

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 GPS front
 
Samsung TL500 front
Portability
88
Imaging
34
Features
54
Overall
42

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung TL500 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
Samsung TL500
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 24-72mm (F1.8-2.4) lens
  • 386g - 114 x 63 x 29mm
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Additionally Known as EX1
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung TL500 Overview

Here is a comprehensive assessment of the Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung TL500, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Pentax and Samsung. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the WG-3 GPS (16MP) and TL500 (10MP) and the WG-3 GPS (1/2.3") and TL500 (1/1.7") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The WG-3 GPS was revealed 3 years later than the TL500 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a in depth comparison, below is a concise view of how the WG-3 GPS grades vs the TL500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 GPS over the Samsung TL500

 WG-3 GPS TL500 
RevealedJuly 2013July 2010Fresher by 37 months

Reasons to pick Samsung TL500 over the Pentax WG-3 GPS

 TL500 WG-3 GPS 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution614k460kSharper screen (+154k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 GPS and Samsung TL500

 WG-3 GPS TL500 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung TL500 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax WG-3 GPS enjoys outside 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 TL500 has proportions of 114mm x 63mm x 29mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 386 grams (0.85 lbs).

Examine the Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung TL500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the WG-3 GPS vs the TL500.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung TL500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 GPS and TL500 is 90 and 88 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung TL500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung TL500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-3 GPS and TL500.

Clearly, both of those cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The WG-3 GPS using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF harder and the Pentax WG-3 GPS will resolve more detail because of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The younger WG-3 GPS provides a benefit in sensor tech.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung TL500 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung TL500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung TL500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Portrait photography factors
Samsung TL500 Portrait photography factors
41
focusing manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
40
you can focus manually
saves RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Street photography highlights
Samsung TL500 Street photography highlights
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than competition (238g)
66
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
heavier than others (386 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Sports photography highlights
Samsung TL500 Sports photography highlights
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
environment proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (240 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
29
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Travel photography factors
Samsung TL500 Travel photography factors
69
environment proofing
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
bad battery life (240 shots)
more heavy than competition (238g)
screen is not selfie friendly
64
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
quite wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than others (386 grams)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Landscape photography features
Samsung TL500 Landscape photography features
54
focusing manually
pretty wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
bad battery life (240 per charge)
52
you can focus manually
quite wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS as a Vlogging camera
Samsung TL500 as a Vlogging camera
34
pretty wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing microphone socket
more heavy than competition (238 grams)
64
quite wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external mic support
heavier than others (386 grams)
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Samsung TL500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 GPS and Samsung TL500
 Pentax WG-3 GPSSamsung TL500
General Information
Brand Pentax Samsung
Model Pentax WG-3 GPS Samsung TL500
Also referred to as - EX1
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-07-19 2010-07-09
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 24-72mm (3.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/1.8-2.4
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 614 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1500 secs
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.40 m 5.20 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow syncro, Manual
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 238 gr (0.52 pounds) 386 gr (0.85 pounds)
Dimensions 125 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 114 x 63 x 29mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 40
DXO Color Depth score not tested 19.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.1
DXO Low light score not tested 129
Other
Battery life 240 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI92 SLB-07A
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (10 sec, 2 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC, internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $350 $527