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Pentax WG-3 vs Ricoh GR II

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Ricoh GR II front
Portability
89
Imaging
59
Features
55
Overall
57

Pentax WG-3 vs Ricoh GR II 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
  • Launched July 2013
Ricoh GR II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28mm (F2.8-16.0) lens
  • 251g - 117 x 63 x 35mm
  • Revealed June 2015
  • Replaced the Ricoh GR
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Pentax WG-3 vs Ricoh GR II Overview

Following is a complete review of the Pentax WG-3 and Ricoh GR II, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Ricoh. The image resolution of the WG-3 (16MP) and the GR II (16MP) is fairly well matched but the WG-3 (1/2.3") and GR II (APS-C) feature different sensor dimensions.

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The WG-3 was released 23 months prior to the GR II making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Ricoh GR II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the WG-3 matches up against the GR II in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Ricoh GR II

 WG-3 GR II 

Reasons to pick Ricoh GR II over the Pentax WG-3

 GR II WG-3 
RevealedJune 2015July 2013More modern by 23 months
Display resolution1230k460kCrisper display (+770k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Ricoh GR II

 WG-3 GR II 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Pentax WG-3 vs Ricoh GR II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera often, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Pentax WG-3 provides outside measurements of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Ricoh GR II has proportions of 117mm x 63mm x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs).

See the Pentax WG-3 and Ricoh GR II in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the WG-3 vs the GR II.

Pentax WG-3 vs Ricoh GR II size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the WG-3 and GR II is 90 and 89 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Ricoh GR II top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Ricoh GR II Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes purely by looking at specifications. The image here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-3 and GR II.

To sum up, both of those cameras posses the exact same resolution but different sensor sizes. The WG-3 provides the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult. The more aged WG-3 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Pentax WG-3 vs Ricoh GR II sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Ricoh GR II Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Ricoh GR II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography details
Ricoh GR II Portrait photography details
41
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
features face detect focusing
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
75
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Street photography information
Ricoh GR II Street photography information
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
74
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than average in class (251g)
good ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography factors
Ricoh GR II Sports photography factors
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
features tracking focus
weather proofing
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (240 shots)
no phase detect AF
50
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
focal length is fixed (28mm)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax WG-3
Travel photography with Ricoh GR II
72
weather proofing
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
67
lighter than average in class (251g)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography advice
Ricoh GR II Landscape photography advice
54
manual focus
really wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
59
focusing manually
screen size is good (3")
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (28mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
no image stabilization
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax WG-3
Vlogging with Ricoh GR II
36
really wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no microphone support
32
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (251g)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no mic jack
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Pentax WG-3 vs Ricoh GR II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Ricoh GR II
 Pentax WG-3Ricoh GR II
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Ricoh
Model type Pentax WG-3 Ricoh GR II
Type Waterproof Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-07-19 2015-06-17
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - GR Engine V
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 28mm (1x)
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-16.0
Macro focusing range 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 1,230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 300s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.40 m 3.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, Flash On, Flash Synchro., Manual Flash, Red-Eye Flash Auto, Red-Eye Flash On, Red-Eye Flash Synchro, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB 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 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
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 None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 grams (0.51 lbs) 251 grams (0.55 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 117 x 63 x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1078
Other
Battery life 240 images 320 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 DB-65
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $300 $599