Pentax WG-3 vs Ricoh GR II

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.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax WG-3 and Ricoh GR II. The complete galleries are viewable at Pentax WG-3 Gallery and Ricoh GR II Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.