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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony TX9

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 GPS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony TX9 Key Specs

Pentax WG-3 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
Sony TX9
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 149g - 98 x 60 x 18mm
  • Introduced July 2010
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony TX9 Overview

Below is a in depth analysis of the Pentax WG-3 GPS versus Sony TX9, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Ultracompact by rivals Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the WG-3 GPS (16MP) and TX9 (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The WG-3 GPS was launched 3 years later than the TX9 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Pentax WG-3 GPS being a Compact camera and the Sony TX9 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the WG-3 GPS scores vs the TX9 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 GPS over the Sony TX9

 WG-3 GPS TX9 
IntroducedJuly 2013July 2010More recent by 37 months

Reasons to pick Sony TX9 over the Pentax WG-3 GPS

 TX9 WG-3 GPS 
Display dimensions3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution922k460kSharper display (+462k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 GPS and Sony TX9

 WG-3 GPS TX9 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony TX9 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you need to consider its weight and size. The Pentax WG-3 GPS provides outer measurements 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 Sony TX9 has specifications of 98mm x 60mm x 18mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.7") along with a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Compare the Pentax WG-3 GPS versus Sony TX9 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the WG-3 GPS compared to the TX9.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony TX9 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the WG-3 GPS and TX9 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony TX9 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony TX9 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to see the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading specs. The graphic here will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-3 GPS and TX9.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Pentax WG-3 GPS to offer you more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The newer WG-3 GPS will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony TX9 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony TX9 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony TX9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Portrait photography highlights
Sony TX9 Portrait photography highlights
41
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
27
manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax WG-3 GPS
Street photography with Sony TX9
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
heavier than competition in class (238 grams)
60
image stabilization (Optical)
has touch to focus
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
heavier than average in class (149 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Sports photography factors
Sony TX9 Sports photography factors
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
features tracking focus
weather proof
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (240 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
34
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS as a Travel photography camera
Sony TX9 as a Travel photography camera
69
weather proof
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
terrible battery power (240 CIPA)
heavier than competition in class (238 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
60
has touch to focus
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than average in class (149g)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Landscape photography factors
Sony TX9 Landscape photography factors
54
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
terrible battery power (240 per charge)
41
manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
big screen (3.5 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Vlogging info
Sony TX9 Vlogging info
34
quite wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
missing mic port
heavier than competition in class (238g)
32
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no mic jack
heavier than average in class (149g)
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony TX9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 GPS and Sony TX9
 Pentax WG-3 GPSSony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax WG-3 GPS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9
Type Waterproof Ultracompact
Released 2013-07-19 2010-07-08
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 125 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.5-4.6
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3.5 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.40 m 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 238 gr (0.52 lbs) 149 gr (0.33 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 98 x 60 x 18mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $350 $799