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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony RX100 II

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 GPS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
74
Overall
60

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony RX100 II 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
  • Announced July 2013
Sony RX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 281g - 102 x 58 x 38mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Replaced the Sony RX100
  • Later Model is Sony RX100 III
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony RX100 II Overview

Let's look much closer at the Pentax WG-3 GPS versus Sony RX100 II, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the WG-3 GPS (16MP) and the RX100 II (20MP) is very comparable but the WG-3 GPS (1/2.3") and RX100 II (1") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The WG-3 GPS was manufactured within a month of the RX100 II which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax WG-3 GPS being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the WG-3 GPS grades vs the RX100 II when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 GPS over the Sony RX100 II

 WG-3 GPS RX100 II 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 II over the Pentax WG-3 GPS

 RX100 II WG-3 GPS 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k460kSharper display (+769k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 GPS and Sony RX100 II

 WG-3 GPS RX100 II 
LaunchedJuly 2013June 2013Same generation
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony RX100 II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Pentax WG-3 GPS comes with external 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) while the Sony RX100 II has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check the Pentax WG-3 GPS versus Sony RX100 II in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the WG-3 GPS against the RX100 II.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony RX100 II size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 GPS and RX100 II is 90 and 89 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony RX100 II top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizing simply by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-3 GPS and RX100 II.

Clearly, the 2 cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The WG-3 GPS because of its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony RX100 II will show more detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony RX100 II sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony RX100 II Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony RX100 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3 GPS
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 II
41
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers face detect autofocus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
70
manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Street photography factors
Sony RX100 II Street photography factors
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
more heavy than competition (238 grams)
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
saves RAW files
lighter than others (281 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Sports photography highlights
Sony RX100 II Sports photography highlights
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
weather proof
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (240 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
67
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery (350 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 II as a Travel photography camera
69
weather proof
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
low battery pack (240 shots)
more heavy than competition (238g)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
80
better than average battery (350 shots)
lighter than others (281 grams)
megapixel count good (20MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Landscape photography info
Sony RX100 II Landscape photography info
54
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
low battery pack (240 shots)
74
manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
saves RAW files
better than average battery (350 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 II as a Vlogging camera
34
rather wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no microphone port
more heavy than competition (238g)
37
quite wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (281 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone port
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony RX100 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 GPS and Sony RX100 II
 Pentax WG-3 GPSSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax WG-3 GPS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Type Waterproof Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-07-19 2013-06-27
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 125 160
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.40 m 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/2000 seconds
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 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 238 gr (0.52 pounds) 281 gr (0.62 pounds)
Dimensions 125 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 67
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 483
Other
Battery life 240 photographs 350 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $350 $598