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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony WX500

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 GPS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony WX500 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
  • Released July 2013
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Previous Model is Sony WX350
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony WX500 Overview

The following is a in depth review of the Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony WX500, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the WG-3 GPS (16MP) and the WX500 (18MP) is pretty comparable and they possess the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The WG-3 GPS was announced 21 months prior to the WX500 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the WG-3 GPS grades against the WX500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 GPS over the Sony WX500

 WG-3 GPS WX500 
Manually focus Very accurate focus

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Pentax WG-3 GPS

 WX500 WG-3 GPS 
IntroducedApril 2015July 2013Newer by 21 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 GPS and Sony WX500

 WG-3 GPS WX500 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-3 GPS features 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) whilst the Sony WX500 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony WX500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the WG-3 GPS and the WX500.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 GPS and WX500 is 90 and 91 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions just by checking out technical specs. The image underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-3 GPS and WX500.

As you have seen, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Sony WX500 to provide greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged WG-3 GPS will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Portrait photography features
Sony WX500 Portrait photography features
41
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
offers face detect autofocus
no manual control
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
39
good resolution (18 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
no manual focus
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS as a Street photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Street photography camera
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than competition in class (238 grams)
69
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (236g)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Sports photography details
Sony WX500 Sports photography details
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery (360 per charge)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Travel photography advice
Sony WX500 Travel photography advice
69
weather sealing
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery power (240 per charge)
more heavy than competition in class (238g)
display is not selfie friendly
71
better than average battery (360 per charge)
lighter than competitors in class (236 grams)
good resolution (18MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Landscape photography information
Sony WX500 Landscape photography information
54
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
weather sealing
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
49
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
better than average battery (360 per charge)
no manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Vlogging advice
Sony WX500 Vlogging advice
34
relatively wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (238g)
35
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (236g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of external mic jack
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 GPS and Sony WX500
 Pentax WG-3 GPSSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax WG-3 GPS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-07-19 2015-04-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
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 16 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
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
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.40 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 238 grams (0.52 lb) 236 grams (0.52 lb)
Dimensions 125 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 photographs 360 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $350 $348