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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5R

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5R 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
  • Revealed July 2013
Sony NEX-5R
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Announced August 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5N
  • Updated by Sony NEX-5T
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5R Overview

Below, we are matching up the Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5R, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the WG-3 (16MP) and the NEX-5R (16MP) is very similar but the WG-3 (1/2.3") and NEX-5R (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The WG-3 was introduced 11 months after the NEX-5R and they are of a similar age. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise summation of how the WG-3 scores vs the NEX-5R for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 WG-3 NEX-5R 
AnnouncedJuly 2013August 2012More modern by 11 months

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

 NEX-5R WG-3 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 WG-3 NEX-5R 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

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

In case you're going to carry around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax WG-3 provides physical measurements of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5R has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5R in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the WG-3 and the NEX-5R.

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

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

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

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

Sometimes, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes only by reviewing technical specs. The pic underneath will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-3 and NEX-5R.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have got the exact same megapixel count but not the same sensor sizes. The WG-3 comes with the tinier sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF harder. The fresher WG-3 will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography info
Sony NEX-5R Portrait photography info
41
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
74
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Street photography information
Sony NEX-5R Street photography information
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
80
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography information
Sony NEX-5R Sports photography information
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (240 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
68
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax WG-3
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5R
72
environment sealing
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
terrible battery power (240 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
73
boasts touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax WG-3
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5R
54
you can focus manually
pretty wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
terrible battery power (240 shots)
75
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-5R Vlogging factors
36
pretty wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone port
31
screen is touchscreen
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing external mic socket
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony NEX-5R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony NEX-5R
 Pentax WG-3Sony Alpha NEX-5R
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax WG-3 Sony Alpha NEX-5R
Class Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-07-19 2012-08-29
Physical type 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 99
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.40 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 gr (0.51 lb) 276 gr (0.61 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 910
Other
Battery life 240 photographs 330 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $300 $750