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Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX300

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Samsung NX300 front
Portability
86
Imaging
63
Features
73
Overall
67

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX300 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
  • Announced July 2013
Samsung NX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 331g - 122 x 64 x 41mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Earlier Model is Samsung NX210
  • Successor is Samsung NX500
Photography Glossary

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX300 Overview

In this write-up, we will be analyzing the Pentax WG-3 and Samsung NX300, 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 NX300 (20MP) is pretty well matched but the WG-3 (1/2.3") and NX300 (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

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The WG-3 was announced 4 months before the NX300 so they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Samsung NX300 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the WG-3 grades vs the NX300 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Samsung NX300

 WG-3 NX300 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX300 over the Pentax WG-3

 NX300 WG-3 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3.3"3"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution768k460kCrisper screen (+308k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Samsung NX300

 WG-3 NX300 
RevealedJuly 2013November 2013Similar age
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX300 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Pentax WG-3 has external dimensions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX300 has proportions of 122mm x 64mm x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6") having a weight of 331 grams (0.73 lbs).

Look at the Pentax WG-3 and Samsung NX300 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the WG-3 against the NX300.

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX300 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the WG-3 and NX300 is 90 and 86 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX300 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX300 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to visualize the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading through technical specs. The graphic underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-3 and NX300.

As you can tell, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The WG-3 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Samsung NX300 will resolve extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX300 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3
Portrait photography with Samsung NX300
41
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
77
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Street photography advice
Samsung NX300 Street photography advice
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
80
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
offers touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography factors
Samsung NX300 Sports photography factors
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery (240 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
73
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax WG-3
Travel photography with Samsung NX300
72
weather proof
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
bad battery (240 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
67
offers touch focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography features
Samsung NX300 Landscape photography features
54
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
weather proof
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
bad battery (240 shots)
72
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is good (3.3 inch)
decent megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Vlogging highlights
Samsung NX300 Vlogging highlights
36
relatively wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone socket
33
has touchscreen
includes face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Samsung NX300
 Pentax WG-3Samsung NX300
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Samsung
Model Pentax WG-3 Samsung NX300
Category Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-07-19 2013-11-24
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - DRIMe IV
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 247
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Samsung NX
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 32
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3.3"
Resolution of screen 460k dot 768k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating Active Matrix OLED screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.40 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230g (0.51 lbs) 331g (0.73 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 122 x 64 x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 76
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 942
Other
Battery life 240 pictures 330 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $300 $750