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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VA

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VA 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 RX100 VA
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Launched July 2018
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VA Overview

Here is a detailed analysis of the Pentax WG-3 and Sony RX100 VA, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the WG-3 (16MP) and the RX100 VA (20MP) is very well matched but the WG-3 (1/2.3") and RX100 VA (1") feature different sensor sizes.

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The WG-3 was unveiled 6 years earlier than the RX100 VA and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 VA being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the WG-3 matches up versus the RX100 VA with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Sony RX100 VA

 WG-3 RX100 VA 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VA over the Pentax WG-3

 RX100 VA WG-3 
LaunchedJuly 2018July 2013Fresher by 60 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k460kClearer display (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Sony RX100 VA

 WG-3 RX100 VA 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Touch display No Touch display

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VA Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Pentax WG-3 comes with external measurements of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Sony RX100 VA has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs).

Check out the Pentax WG-3 and Sony RX100 VA in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the WG-3 vs the RX100 VA.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VA size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the WG-3 and RX100 VA is 90 and 89 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VA top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VA Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizing merely by looking at technical specs. The graphic here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-3 and RX100 VA.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The WG-3 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Sony RX100 VA will give you greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics much more aggressively. The older WG-3 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VA sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 VA
41
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
supports face detect autofocus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
66
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000s)
decent megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Street photography factors
Sony RX100 VA Street photography factors
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
86
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
lighter than competition in class (299 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 VA as a Sports photography camera
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery (240 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
70
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
max fps high (24.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
provides tracking autofocus
has phase detect autofocus
low battery (220 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Travel photography info
Sony RX100 VA Travel photography info
72
environment proof
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
bad battery (240 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
76
lighter than competition in class (299 grams)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low battery (220 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography information
Sony RX100 VA Landscape photography information
54
focusing manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
environment proof
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
bad battery (240 shots)
66
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Vlogging information
Sony RX100 VA Vlogging information
36
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
missing mic socket
81
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (299g)
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VA Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony RX100 VA
 Pentax WG-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax WG-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
Type Waterproof Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-07-19 2018-07-13
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 125 125
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 315
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 24.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.40 m 10.20 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230g (0.51 lbs) 299g (0.66 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos 220 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $300 $998