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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX30V 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 HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Released February 2012
  • Superseded the Sony HX20V
  • Replacement is Sony HX50V
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX30V, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the WG-3 (16MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is very well matched and they use the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The WG-3 was introduced 17 months later than the HX30V making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a brief overview of how the WG-3 grades against the HX30V for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Sony HX30V

 WG-3 HX30V 
ReleasedJuly 2013February 2012More recent by 17 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Pentax WG-3

 HX30V WG-3 
Display resolution922k460kCrisper display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Sony HX30V

 WG-3 HX30V 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-3 comes with exterior measurements of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Sony HX30V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Examine the Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX30V in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the WG-3 against the HX30V.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 and HX30V is 90 and 90 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to see the difference between sensor measurements just by looking at specs. The visual underneath should provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-3 and HX30V.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Sony HX30V to resolve extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The more modern WG-3 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX30V Portrait photography advice
41
has manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
provides face detection focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
45
manual focus
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
has face detect focus
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Street photography highlights
Sony HX30V Street photography highlights
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (254g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography information
Sony HX30V Sports photography information
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (240 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
has tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax WG-3
Travel photography with Sony HX30V
72
environment sealing
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery life (240 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competitors (254 grams)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
no Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography information
Sony HX30V Landscape photography information
54
has manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
not so great battery life (240 CIPA)
50
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Vlogging factors
Sony HX30V Vlogging factors
36
pretty wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic support
34
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (254g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
display is not selfie friendly
no mic support
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony HX30V
 Pentax WG-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax WG-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-07-19 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
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
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.40 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 gr (0.51 lb) 254 gr (0.56 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures 320 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $300 $420