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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony S980

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony S980 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
  • Released July 2013
Sony S980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Introduced February 2009
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony S980 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Pentax WG-3 and Sony S980, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Sony. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the WG-3 (16MP) and S980 (12MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The WG-3 was unveiled 4 years later than the S980 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the WG-3 scores against the S980 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Sony S980

 WG-3 S980 
IntroducedJuly 2013February 2009More recent by 54 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Pentax WG-3

 S980 WG-3 

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Sony S980

 WG-3 S980 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Pentax WG-3 enjoys external measurements of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax WG-3 and Sony S980 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the WG-3 versus the S980.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the WG-3 and S980 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to visualize the gap in sensor measurements only by looking through specs. The graphic here may provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-3 and S980.

All in all, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can expect the Pentax WG-3 to provide you with greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The newer WG-3 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography factors
Sony S980 Portrait photography factors
41
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
27
has manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax WG-3
Street photography with Sony S980
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
47
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography details
Sony S980 Sports photography details
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (240 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
17
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Travel photography advice
Sony S980 Travel photography advice
72
weather proof
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
bad battery power (240 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S980 as a Landscape photography camera
54
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
weather proof
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
bad battery power (240 CIPA)
27
has manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Vlogging details
Sony S980 Vlogging details
36
quite wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
no mic support
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic port
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony S980
 Pentax WG-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax WG-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-07-19 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.40 m 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230 gr (0.51 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI92 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $300 $300