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Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX500

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Samsung NX500 front
Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX500 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
  • Released July 2013
Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Earlier Model is Samsung NX300
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Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX500 Overview

Below is a extensive review of the Pentax WG-3 versus Samsung NX500, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Pentax and Samsung. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the WG-3 (16MP) and NX500 (28MP) and the WG-3 (1/2.3") and NX500 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The WG-3 was unveiled 18 months prior to the NX500 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras feature different body design with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Samsung NX500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short overview of how the WG-3 scores versus the NX500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Samsung NX500

 WG-3 NX500 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Pentax WG-3

 NX500 WG-3 
IntroducedFebruary 2015July 2013More recent by 18 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1036k460kCrisper screen (+576k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Samsung NX500

 WG-3 NX500 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-3 comes with outside dimensions 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 Samsung NX500 has sizing of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Examine the Pentax WG-3 versus Samsung NX500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the WG-3 compared to the NX500.

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX500 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the WG-3 and NX500 is 90 and 87 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements purely by seeing specs. The photograph underneath will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-3 and NX500.

All in all, both cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The WG-3 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Samsung NX500 will produce greater detail having an extra 12MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older WG-3 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX500 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography highlights
Samsung NX500 Portrait photography highlights
41
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with face detection focusing
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
80
has manual focus
great megapixels (28 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax WG-3
Street photography with Samsung NX500
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
81
has a tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
provides touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Sports photography camera
Samsung NX500 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather sealing
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (240 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
75
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
great megapixels (28MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
comes with phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Travel photography advice
Samsung NX500 Travel photography advice
72
weather sealing
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
low battery life (240 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
78
connects via bluetooth
provides touch focus
great megapixels (28 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography highlights
Samsung NX500 Landscape photography highlights
54
manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
low battery life (240 CIPA)
80
has manual focus
swap lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
great megapixels (28 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax WG-3
Vlogging with Samsung NX500
36
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic support
34
touchscreen enabled
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (4096 x 2160 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have mic port
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Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung NX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Samsung NX500
 Pentax WG-3Samsung NX500
General Information
Make Pentax Samsung
Model Pentax WG-3 Samsung NX500
Type Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2013-07-19 2015-02-06
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - DRIMe 5
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 28 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6480 x 4320
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
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 9 209
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Samsung NX
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 32
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 1,036 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder 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
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.40 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480
Max video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 H.265
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230 gr (0.51 lb) 287 gr (0.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 87
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.9
DXO Low light score not tested 1379
Other
Battery life 240 photos 370 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 - 30 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $300 $800