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Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung SL30

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Samsung SL30 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
14
Overall
25

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung SL30 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 SL30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 140g - 94 x 61 x 23mm
  • Announced February 2009
  • Other Name is ES15
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Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung SL30 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Pentax WG-3 versus Samsung SL30, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Pentax and Samsung. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the WG-3 (16MP) and SL30 (10MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The WG-3 was revealed 4 years after the SL30 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the WG-3 matches up vs the SL30 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Samsung SL30

 WG-3 SL30 
AnnouncedJuly 2013February 2009Newer by 54 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung SL30 over the Pentax WG-3

 SL30 WG-3 

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Samsung SL30

 WG-3 SL30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung SL30 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Pentax WG-3 has got physical 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 SL30 has measurements of 94mm x 61mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") with a weight of 140 grams (0.31 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax WG-3 versus Samsung SL30 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use during that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the WG-3 versus the SL30.

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung SL30 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the WG-3 and SL30 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung SL30 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung SL30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to see the difference in sensor dimensions merely by looking through specifications. The image here should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-3 and SL30.

Plainly, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Pentax WG-3 to provide you with extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures more aggressively. The more modern WG-3 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung SL30 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung SL30 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung SL30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3
Portrait photography with Samsung SL30
41
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
25
provides face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Street photography factors
Samsung SL30 Street photography factors
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax WG-3
Sports photography with Samsung SL30
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (240 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
16
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Travel photography advice
Samsung SL30 Travel photography advice
72
environment proofing
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
terrible battery (240 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography details
Samsung SL30 Landscape photography details
54
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
terrible battery (240 shots)
22
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Vlogging info
Samsung SL30 Vlogging info
36
quite wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
no mic socket
25
provides face detect focusing
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of mic socket
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Pentax WG-3 vs Samsung SL30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Samsung SL30
 Pentax WG-3Samsung SL30
General Information
Brand Pentax Samsung
Model type Pentax WG-3 Samsung SL30
Otherwise known as - ES15
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-07-19 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 38-114mm (3.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-5.7
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.5"
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.40 m 4.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Auto & Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Fill-in Flash, Flash Off, Red-Eye Fix
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) 800 x 592 (20 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 grams (0.51 pounds) 140 grams (0.31 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 94 x 61 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI92 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $300 $93