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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony a3500

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony a3500 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
  • Announced July 2013
Sony a3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Released March 2014
  • Superseded the Sony A3000
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony a3500 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Pentax WG-3 versus Sony a3500, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the WG-3 (16MP) and the a3500 (20MP) is very well matched but the WG-3 (1/2.3") and a3500 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The WG-3 was launched 8 months prior to the a3500 so they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick view of how the WG-3 scores against the a3500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Sony a3500

 WG-3 a3500 
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Pentax WG-3

 a3500 WG-3 
ReleasedMarch 2014July 2013More recent by 8 months

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Sony a3500

 WG-3 a3500 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Pentax WG-3 offers outer 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) while the Sony a3500 has measurements of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Compare the Pentax WG-3 versus Sony a3500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at the time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the WG-3 versus the a3500.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the WG-3 and a3500 is 90 and 69 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to visualise the difference between sensor measurements only by reading through specs. The photograph underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-3 and a3500.

All in all, both of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The WG-3 because of its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh harder and the Sony a3500 will give you extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older WG-3 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography information
Sony a3500 Portrait photography information
41
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
77
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Street photography info
Sony a3500 Street photography info
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
57
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (411g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography highlights
Sony a3500 Sports photography highlights
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
environment sealing
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (240 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
60
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
great battery pack (470 shots)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Travel photography features
Sony a3500 Travel photography features
72
environment sealing
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
60
great battery pack (470 per charge)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (411g)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography highlights
Sony a3500 Landscape photography highlights
54
has manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
70
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
megapixel count decent (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (470 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Vlogging details
Sony a3500 Vlogging details
36
relatively wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no external mic socket
26
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
lack of mic support
heavier than competition in class (411 grams)
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony a3500
 Pentax WG-3Sony Alpha a3500
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax WG-3 Sony Alpha a3500
Type Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-07-19 2014-03-21
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ image
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.40 m 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230g (0.51 lbs) 411g (0.91 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
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 photos 470 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal -
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $300 $398