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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VI

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI front
Portability
88
Imaging
54
Features
75
Overall
62

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VI 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
  • Introduced July 2013
Sony RX100 VI
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 301g - 102 x 58 x 43mm
  • Announced June 2018
  • Older Model is Sony RX100 V
  • Renewed by Sony RX100 VII
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VI Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Pentax WG-3 versus Sony RX100 VI, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the WG-3 (16MP) and the RX100 VI (20MP) is pretty similar but the WG-3 (1/2.3") and RX100 VI (1") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The WG-3 was released 5 years prior to the RX100 VI and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 VI being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the WG-3 matches up against the RX100 VI for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 WG-3 RX100 VI 

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

 RX100 VI WG-3 
AnnouncedJune 2018July 2013Fresher by 59 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k460kClearer screen (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

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

 WG-3 RX100 VI 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VI Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-3 comes with external 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) and the Sony RX100 VI has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7") along with a weight of 301 grams (0.66 lbs).

Check the Pentax WG-3 versus Sony RX100 VI in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the WG-3 versus the RX100 VI.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VI size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 and RX100 VI is 90 and 88 respectively.

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

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VI Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to see the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reviewing specs. The photograph underneath should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-3 and RX100 VI.

All in all, the two cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The WG-3 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony RX100 VI will offer you extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The older WG-3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VI sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VI Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 VI
41
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
comes with face detect focusing
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
66
focusing manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
good resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Street photography details
Sony RX100 VI Street photography details
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
85
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
features focus via touch
lighter than others in class (301g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography highlights
Sony RX100 VI Sports photography highlights
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (240 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
70
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (24.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
features tracking autofocus
supports phase detect autofocus
not so great battery life (240 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Travel photography highlights
Sony RX100 VI Travel photography highlights
72
weather proofing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
low battery (240 per charge)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
77
lighter than others in class (301 grams)
connects via bluetooth
features focus via touch
good resolution (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
quite wide (24mm)
not so great battery life (240 CIPA)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 VI as a Landscape photography camera
54
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
low battery (240 per charge)
65
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
not so great battery life (240 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 VI as a Vlogging camera
36
quite wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
missing microphone socket
77
quite wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than others in class (301 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
missing external mic port
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony RX100 VI Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony RX100 VI
 Pentax WG-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax WG-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI
Category Waterproof Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-07-19 2018-06-05
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 125 125
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 315
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 24-200mm (8.3x)
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-4.5
Macro focus range 1cm 8cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 24.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.40 m 5.90 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/2000 secs
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230g (0.51 pounds) 301g (0.66 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7")
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 photographs 240 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $300 $1,198