Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony RX100 VA

Below is a extended comparison of the Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony RX100 VA, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the WG-3 GPS (16MP) and the RX100 VA (20MP) is fairly close but the WG-3 GPS (1/2.3") and RX100 VA (1") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The WG-3 GPS was released 6 years before the RX100 VA and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax WG-3 GPS being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 VA being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise view of how the WG-3 GPS scores vs the RX100 VA when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax WG-3 GPS and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A). The complete galleries are available at Pentax WG-3 GPS Gallery and Sony RX100 VA Gallery.

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax WG-3 GPS comes with outer dimensions of 125mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 238 grams (0.52 lbs) and the Sony RX100 VA has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony RX100 VA in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the WG-3 GPS and the RX100 VA.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the WG-3 GPS and RX100 VA is 90 and 89 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements only by researching specifications. The visual underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-3 GPS and RX100 VA.

Plainly, the two cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The WG-3 GPS because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony RX100 VA will render greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older WG-3 GPS will be behind in sensor technology.