Clicky

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A77

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 GPS front
 
Sony SLT-A77 front
Portability
59
Imaging
63
Features
83
Overall
71

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A77 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 A77
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 50 - 16000 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 732g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Announced October 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony A700
  • Newer Model is Sony A77 II
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A77 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Pentax WG-3 GPS versus Sony A77, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the WG-3 GPS (16MP) and A77 (24MP) and the WG-3 GPS (1/2.3") and A77 (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The WG-3 GPS was released 22 months later than the A77 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax WG-3 GPS being a Compact camera and the Sony A77 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the WG-3 GPS scores vs the A77 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 GPS over the Sony A77

 WG-3 GPS A77 
AnnouncedJuly 2013October 2011More recent by 22 months

Reasons to pick Sony A77 over the Pentax WG-3 GPS

 A77 WG-3 GPS 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 GPS and Sony A77

 WG-3 GPS A77 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A77 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Pentax WG-3 GPS enjoys outer dimensions of 125mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 238 grams (0.52 lbs) whilst the Sony A77 has dimensions of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") having a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax WG-3 GPS versus Sony A77 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the WG-3 GPS versus the A77.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A77 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 GPS and A77 is 90 and 59 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A77 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A77 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to picture the difference in sensor measurements just by looking through a spec sheet. The visual here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-3 GPS and A77.

Clearly, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The WG-3 GPS due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony A77 will render extra detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The younger WG-3 GPS provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A77 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A77 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A77 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A77 as a Portrait photography camera
41
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
supports face detection focusing
no manual control
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
77
manual focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW files
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Street photography factors
Sony A77 Street photography factors
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (238 grams)
74
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Sports photography advice
Sony A77 Sports photography advice
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (240 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
74
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
environment proofing
supports phase detect AF
terrible battery (470 per charge)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Travel photography details
Sony A77 Travel photography details
69
environment proof
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
bad battery (240 per charge)
more heavy than competition in class (238 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
62
environment proofing
good MP (24MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery (470 CIPA)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax WG-3 GPS
Landscape photography with Sony A77
54
you can focus manually
decently wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery (240 per charge)
71
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
terrible battery (470 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Vlogging details
Sony A77 Vlogging details
34
decently wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (238 grams)
76
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone support
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A77 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 GPS and Sony A77
 Pentax WG-3 GPSSony SLT-A77
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax WG-3 GPS Sony SLT-A77
Class Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2013-07-19 2011-10-25
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 16000
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 125 50
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 12.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.40 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/250 secs
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 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 238 grams (0.52 lb) 732 grams (1.61 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 78
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.2
DXO Low light score not tested 801
Other
Battery life 240 photos 470 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $350 $900