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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A850

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 GPS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A850 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
  • Revealed July 2013
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Introduced April 2010
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A850 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A850, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Pentax and Sony. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the WG-3 GPS (16MP) and A850 (25MP) and the WG-3 GPS (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The WG-3 GPS was launched 3 years after the A850 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax WG-3 GPS being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summation of how the WG-3 GPS matches up versus the A850 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 GPS over the Sony A850

 WG-3 GPS A850 
IntroducedJuly 2013April 2010Newer by 40 months

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Pentax WG-3 GPS

 A850 WG-3 GPS 
Screen resolution922k460kSharper screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 GPS and Sony A850

 WG-3 GPS A850 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-3 GPS enjoys outer measurements of 125mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 238 grams (0.52 lbs) and the Sony A850 has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Check the Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A850 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the WG-3 GPS and the A850.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A850 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 GPS and A850 is 90 and 54 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to envision the gap in sensor dimensions just by looking through specs. The pic here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-3 GPS and A850.

All in all, each of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The WG-3 GPS featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Sony A850 will provide you with extra detail utilizing its extra 9MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The fresher WG-3 GPS will have a benefit in sensor tech.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3 GPS
Portrait photography with Sony A850
41
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
72
has manual focus
excellent megapixels (25MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Street photography highlights
Sony A850 Street photography highlights
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
more heavy than average (238 grams)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
large sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Sports photography factors
Sony A850 Sports photography factors
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (240 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
71
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
excellent megapixels (25MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
weather proof
supports phase detect AF
does not have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Travel photography highlights
Sony A850 Travel photography highlights
69
environment proofing
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery power (240 per charge)
more heavy than average (238g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
55
weather proof
excellent megapixels (25 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Landscape photography info
Sony A850 Landscape photography info
54
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery power (240 shots)
73
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
excellent megapixels (25MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
two card slots
does not have liveview
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Vlogging factors
Sony A850 Vlogging factors
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than average (238 grams)
9
can't shoot video
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 GPS and Sony A850
 Pentax WG-3 GPSSony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax WG-3 GPS Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Class Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2013-07-19 2010-04-15
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 6048 x 4032
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 125 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.40 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/250 seconds
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) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 238 gr (0.52 pounds) 895 gr (1.97 pounds)
Dimensions 125 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 1415
Other
Battery life 240 images 880 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Card slots One 2
Pricing at release $350 $0