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Pentax WG-3 vs Pentax X70

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Pentax X70 front
Portability
71
Imaging
34
Features
34
Overall
34

Pentax WG-3 vs Pentax X70 Key Specs

Pentax WG-3
(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
  • 230g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Revealed July 2013
Pentax X70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 50 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-624mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 410g - 110 x 83 x 90mm
  • Launched March 2009
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Pentax WG-3 vs Pentax X70 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Pentax WG-3 versus Pentax X70, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both built by Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the WG-3 (16MP) and X70 (12MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The WG-3 was revealed 4 years after the X70 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax X70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a brief overview of how the WG-3 scores versus the X70 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Pentax X70

 WG-3 X70 
LaunchedJuly 2013March 2009Newer by 54 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax X70 over the Pentax WG-3

 X70 WG-3 

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Pentax X70

 WG-3 X70 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Pentax WG-3 vs Pentax X70 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-3 has got external dimensions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Pentax X70 has sizing of 110mm x 83mm x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") accompanied by a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs).

See the Pentax WG-3 versus Pentax X70 in the latest Camera and 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 employing at the time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the WG-3 compared to the X70.

Pentax WG-3 vs Pentax X70 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the WG-3 and X70 is 90 and 71 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Pentax X70 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Pentax X70 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions only by looking at technical specs. The image below might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-3 and X70.

As you can tell, each of the cameras feature the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Pentax WG-3 to give you more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The newer WG-3 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Pentax WG-3 vs Pentax X70 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Pentax X70 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Pentax X70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography advice
Pentax X70 Portrait photography advice
41
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
has face detect focus
no manual control
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
28
you can focus manually
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Street photography features
Pentax X70 Street photography features
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
46
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax X70 as a Sports photography camera
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (240 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
50
great zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Travel photography information
Pentax X70 Travel photography information
72
weather sealing
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery (240 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
52
built-in flash
rather wide (26mm)
very long reach (624mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
low MP (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax X70 Landscape photography highlights
54
focusing manually
relatively wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
weather sealing
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
not so great battery (240 CIPA)
35
you can focus manually
rather wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Vlogging advice
Pentax X70 Vlogging advice
36
relatively wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone jack
24
rather wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic jack
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Pentax WG-3 vs Pentax X70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Pentax X70
 Pentax WG-3Pentax X70
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax WG-3 Pentax X70
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-07-19 2009-03-02
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
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 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 50
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 26-624mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing distance 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.40 m 9.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 gr (0.51 lb) 410 gr (0.90 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 110 x 83 x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI92 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $300 $200