Clicky

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
69
Overall
61

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5N 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
  • Revealed July 2013
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Announced October 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-5
  • New Model is Sony NEX-5R
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

In this article, we are analyzing the Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5N, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the WG-3 (16MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is fairly close but the WG-3 (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The WG-3 was announced 22 months after the NEX-5N making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both cameras offer different body type with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the WG-3 scores vs the NEX-5N when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Sony NEX-5N

 WG-3 NEX-5N 
AnnouncedJuly 2013October 2011More modern by 22 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Pentax WG-3

 NEX-5N WG-3 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Sony NEX-5N

 WG-3 NEX-5N 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax WG-3 offers outer measurements of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5N has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5N in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the WG-3 against the NEX-5N.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the WG-3 and NEX-5N is 90 and 89 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizes simply by looking through technical specs. The pic underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-3 and NEX-5N.

As you have seen, each of these cameras offer the same exact resolution but different sensor sizes. The WG-3 comes with the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower depth of field harder. The more modern WG-3 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5N
41
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
no manual control
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Street photography advice
Sony NEX-5N Street photography advice
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
80
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
offers touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography info
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (240 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
58
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery life (460 CIPA)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Travel photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography factors
72
weather sealing
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
low battery power (240 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
71
better than average battery life (460 per charge)
offers touch focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography features
54
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
low battery power (240 CIPA)
71
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (460 shots)
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Vlogging details
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging details
36
reasonably wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone support
33
touchscreen capability
supports face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
does not have external mic port
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony NEX-5N
 Pentax WG-3Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax WG-3 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Category Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-07-19 2011-10-03
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.40 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
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 230g (0.51 lbs) 269g (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 77
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1079
Other
Battery life 240 photographs 460 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $300 $550