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Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung HZ50W

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Samsung HZ50W front
Portability
70
Imaging
37
Features
44
Overall
39

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung HZ50W Key Specs

Pentax WG-3
(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
  • 230g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Launched July 2013
Samsung HZ50W
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-676mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 426g - 116 x 83 x 91mm
  • Revealed May 2010
  • Additionally Known as WB5500
Photography Glossary

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung HZ50W Overview

Here is a detailed overview of the Pentax WG-3 and Samsung HZ50W, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Pentax and Samsung. The sensor resolution of the WG-3 (16MP) and the HZ50W (14MP) is pretty well matched and they use the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The WG-3 was manufactured 3 years later than the HZ50W and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Samsung HZ50W being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight into a complete comparison, below is a short summation of how the WG-3 grades vs the HZ50W for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Samsung HZ50W

 WG-3 HZ50W 
RevealedJuly 2013May 2010Fresher by 40 months
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ50W over the Pentax WG-3

 HZ50W WG-3 

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Samsung HZ50W

 WG-3 HZ50W 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung HZ50W Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-3 enjoys exterior 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) whilst the Samsung HZ50W has sizing of 116mm x 83mm x 91mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.6") having a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs).

Compare the Pentax WG-3 and Samsung HZ50W in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the WG-3 versus the HZ50W.

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung HZ50W size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 and HZ50W is 90 and 70 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung HZ50W top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung HZ50W Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing simply by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-3 and HZ50W.

Clearly, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can expect the Pentax WG-3 to give more detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more modern WG-3 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung HZ50W sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung HZ50W Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung HZ50W Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography highlights
Samsung HZ50W Portrait photography highlights
41
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
46
has manual focus
resolution is good (14MP)
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax WG-3
Street photography with Samsung HZ50W
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography details
Samsung HZ50W Sports photography details
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery (240 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
48
long zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Travel photography camera
Samsung HZ50W as a Travel photography camera
72
weather proofing
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
terrible battery (240 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
58
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
long reach (676mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography information
Samsung HZ50W Landscape photography information
54
you can focus manually
pretty wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
terrible battery (240 shots)
51
has manual focus
fairly wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
saves RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax WG-3
Vlogging with Samsung HZ50W
36
pretty wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
24
fairly wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
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Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung HZ50W Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Samsung HZ50W
 Pentax WG-3Samsung HZ50W
General Information
Company Pentax Samsung
Model type Pentax WG-3 Samsung HZ50W
Also called - WB5500
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-07-19 2010-05-03
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 125 64
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 26-676mm (26.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing distance 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 16 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.40 m 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 gr (0.51 pounds) 426 gr (0.94 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 116 x 83 x 91mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.6")
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 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI92 SLB-11A
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SC/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $300 $250