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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A500

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A500 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
  • Introduced July 2013
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched August 2009
  • Replacement is Sony A560
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A500 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Pentax WG-3 versus Sony A500, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Pentax and Sony. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the WG-3 (16MP) and A500 (12MP) and the WG-3 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The WG-3 was manufactured 3 years later than the A500 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a short introduction of how the WG-3 grades vs the A500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Sony A500

 WG-3 A500 
LaunchedJuly 2013August 2009More recent by 48 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Pentax WG-3

 A500 WG-3 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Sony A500

 WG-3 A500 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-3 features outer dimensions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Sony A500 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Look at the Pentax WG-3 versus Sony A500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the WG-3 against the A500.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the WG-3 and A500 is 90 and 63 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements only by looking at a spec sheet. The visual below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-3 and A500.

Clearly, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The WG-3 due to its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Pentax WG-3 will give greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The fresher WG-3 will have a benefit in sensor technology.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography information
Sony A500 Portrait photography information
41
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
63
has manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
74
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography factors
Sony A500 Sports photography factors
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proof
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (240 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery life (520 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
72
weather proof
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
terrible battery (240 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
43
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
terrible battery life (520 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography info
Sony A500 Landscape photography info
54
you can focus manually
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
weather proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
no manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
terrible battery (240 per charge)
60
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (520 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Vlogging highlights
Sony A500 Vlogging highlights
36
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone support
9
can't record video
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony A500
 Pentax WG-3Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax WG-3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2013-07-19 2009-08-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 125 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.40 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 secs
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) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 gr (0.51 lb) 630 gr (1.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 772
Other
Battery life 240 images 520 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $300 $638