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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A7S

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony Alpha A7S front
Portability
77
Imaging
60
Features
73
Overall
65

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A7S 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
  • Announced July 2013
Sony A7S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 409600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 489g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Replacement is Sony A7S II
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A7S Overview

Here, we are matching up the Pentax WG-3 versus Sony A7S, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the WG-3 (16MP) and A7S (12MP) and the WG-3 (1/2.3") and A7S (Full frame) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The WG-3 was launched 8 months before the A7S and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A7S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the WG-3 scores against the A7S in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Sony A7S

 WG-3 A7S 

Reasons to pick Sony A7S over the Pentax WG-3

 A7S WG-3 
RevealedApril 2014July 2013Newer by 8 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1230k460kSharper display (+770k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Sony A7S

 WG-3 A7S 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A7S Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-3 enjoys external dimensions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Sony A7S has sizing of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") with a weight of 489 grams (1.08 lbs).

Examine the Pentax WG-3 versus Sony A7S in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the WG-3 and the A7S.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A7S size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 and A7S is 90 and 77 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A7S top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A7S Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to see the gap between sensor dimensions only by reading technical specs. The picture here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-3 and A7S.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The WG-3 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax WG-3 will offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged WG-3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A7S sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A7S Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A7S Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3
Portrait photography with Sony A7S
41
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
68
manual focus
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW files
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Street photography highlights
Sony A7S Street photography highlights
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
76
screen tilts
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
lighter than others (489g)
above average ISO range (409,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography features
Sony A7S Sports photography features
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (240 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
52
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
low battery (360 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax WG-3
Travel photography with Sony A7S
72
environment proofing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
bad battery pack (240 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly display
58
lighter than others (489g)
environment sealing
low battery (360 shots)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax WG-3
Landscape photography with Sony A7S
54
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
bad battery pack (240 per charge)
66
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
above average ISO range (409,600)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
low battery (360 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A7S as a Vlogging camera
36
quite wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
missing external microphone support
34
offers face detection focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with external microphone socket
lighter than others (489 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A7S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony A7S
 Pentax WG-3Sony Alpha A7S
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax WG-3 Sony Alpha A7S
Class Waterproof Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2013-07-19 2014-04-06
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4240 x 2832
Max native ISO 6400 409600
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 1,230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.40 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) 3840 x 2160, XAVC S 1080 60p(50Mbps), 30p (50Mbps), 24p (50Mbps). 720 120p (50Mbps). AVCHD 60p (28Mbps), 60i (24Mbps/17Mbps), 24p (24Mbps/17Mbps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230g (0.51 pounds) 489g (1.08 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 87
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.2
DXO Low light score not tested 3702
Other
Battery life 240 images 360 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail price $300 $1,998