Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX11

Following is a detailed assessment of the Pentax WG-3 and Samsung NX11, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Pentax and Samsung. The resolution of the WG-3 (16MP) and the NX11 (15MP) is very well matched but the WG-3 (1/2.3") and NX11 (APS-C) have different sensor sizing.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The WG-3 was announced 2 years after the NX11 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Samsung NX11 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the WG-3 scores vs the NX11 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax WG-3 and Samsung NX11. The whole galleries are available at Pentax WG-3 Gallery and Samsung NX11 Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry around your camera, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Pentax WG-3 has external measurements of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX11 has dimensions of 123mm x 87mm x 40mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 1.6") with a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check out the Pentax WG-3 and Samsung NX11 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the WG-3 compared to the NX11.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 and NX11 is 90 and 80 respectively.

Generally, it is tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizes just by reading through specifications. The pic below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-3 and NX11.

Plainly, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The WG-3 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax WG-3 will resolve extra detail with its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more recent WG-3 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.