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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX5

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX5 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 HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Released June 2010
Photography Glossary

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX5 Overview

Following is a extensive overview of the Pentax WG-3 versus Sony HX5, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the WG-3 (16MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the WG-3 (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") possess different sensor sizing.

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The WG-3 was unveiled 3 years after the HX5 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the WG-3 grades versus the HX5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Sony HX5

 WG-3 HX5 
ReleasedJuly 2013June 2010More modern by 38 months
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Pentax WG-3

 HX5 WG-3 

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Sony HX5

 WG-3 HX5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Pentax WG-3 comes with physical dimensions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Sony HX5 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Look at the Pentax WG-3 versus Sony HX5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the WG-3 against the HX5.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 and HX5 is 90 and 92 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes purely by checking out specs. The pic here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-3 and HX5.

All in all, both of those cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The WG-3 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Pentax WG-3 will provide more detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The newer WG-3 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX5 Portrait photography advice
41
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
19
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Street photography camera
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery life (240 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Travel photography features
Sony HX5 Travel photography features
72
weather proofing
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
low battery life (240 shots)
does not have selfie friendly screen
60
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
no Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Landscape photography camera
54
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
low battery life (240 per charge)
37
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Vlogging information
Sony HX5 Vlogging information
36
rather wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
no microphone jack
31
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly screen
no external mic jack
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony HX5
 Pentax WG-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model Pentax WG-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-07-19 2010-06-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 125 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.40 m 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
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 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230 gr (0.51 lb) 200 gr (0.44 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 240 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI92 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $300 $275