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Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX100

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Samsung NX100 front
Portability
88
Imaging
55
Features
54
Overall
54

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX100 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 NX100
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 282g - 120 x 71 x 35mm
  • Introduced September 2010
  • Successor is Samsung NX200
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Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX100 Overview

Below is a extensive overview of the Pentax WG-3 and Samsung NX100, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Pentax and Samsung. The sensor resolution of the WG-3 (16MP) and the NX100 (15MP) is relatively close but the WG-3 (1/2.3") and NX100 (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

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The WG-3 was revealed 2 years later than the NX100 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Samsung NX100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the WG-3 grades versus the NX100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Samsung NX100

 WG-3 NX100 
IntroducedJuly 2013September 2010More recent by 35 months

Reasons to pick Samsung NX100 over the Pentax WG-3

 NX100 WG-3 
Screen resolution614k460kSharper screen (+154k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Samsung NX100

 WG-3 NX100 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Pentax WG-3 features physical measurements of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Samsung NX100 has proportions of 120mm x 71mm x 35mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 282 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check out the Pentax WG-3 and Samsung NX100 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the WG-3 versus the NX100.

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX100 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 and NX100 is 90 and 88 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX100 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX100 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements purely by viewing specifications. The photograph underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-3 and NX100.

To sum up, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The WG-3 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Pentax WG-3 will result in more detail because of its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The younger WG-3 should have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX100 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3
Portrait photography with Samsung NX100
41
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
73
manual focus
resolution is good (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax WG-3
Street photography with Samsung NX100
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
76
built in image stabilization
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography info
Samsung NX100 Sports photography info
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (240 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
60
built in image stabilization
resolution is good (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great battery power (420 per charge)
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax WG-3
Travel photography with Samsung NX100
72
environment proof
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery pack (240 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
66
great battery power (420 per charge)
resolution is good (15 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung NX100 as a Landscape photography camera
54
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
environment proof
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
not so great battery pack (240 per charge)
75
manual focus
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization
resolution is good (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (420 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Vlogging camera
Samsung NX100 as a Vlogging camera
36
fairly wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of mic port
31
built in image stabilization
supports face detect focusing
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone support
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Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Samsung NX100
 Pentax WG-3Samsung NX100
General Information
Brand Pentax Samsung
Model type Pentax WG-3 Samsung NX100
Type Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2013-07-19 2010-09-14
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - DRIMe Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 15
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Samsung NX
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 32
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 614 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating VGA AMOLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.40 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 gr (0.51 pounds) 282 gr (0.62 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 120 x 71 x 35mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 62
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 563
Other
Battery life 240 pictures 420 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $300 $386