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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX5

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
33
Features
33
Overall
33

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX5 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
  • Introduced July 2013
Sony TX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 148g - 94 x 57 x 18mm
  • Released February 2010
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX5 Overview

In this write-up, we will be analyzing the Pentax WG-3 and Sony TX5, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the WG-3 (16MP) and TX5 (10MP) and the WG-3 (1/2.3") and TX5 (1/2.4") possess different sensor sizing.

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The WG-3 was brought out 3 years later than the TX5 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony TX5 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the WG-3 matches up versus the TX5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Sony TX5

 WG-3 TX5 
ReleasedJuly 2013February 2010More recent by 42 months
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony TX5 over the Pentax WG-3

 TX5 WG-3 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Sony TX5

 WG-3 TX5 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX5 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Pentax WG-3 comes with physical dimensions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Sony TX5 has specifications of 94mm x 57mm x 18mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 148 grams (0.33 lbs).

Check the Pentax WG-3 and Sony TX5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at the time. Below is the front view size comparison of the WG-3 and the TX5.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 and TX5 is 90 and 96 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX5 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to visualize the difference between sensor measurements purely by checking specs. The visual underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-3 and TX5.

All in all, the 2 cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The WG-3 due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Pentax WG-3 will give you extra detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The fresher WG-3 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX5 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3
Portrait photography with Sony TX5
41
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
26
manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
lack of RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Street photography details
Sony TX5 Street photography details
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes focus by touch
environment proofing
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.4")
lack of RAW support
heavier than competition (148 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography factors
Sony TX5 Sports photography factors
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (240 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
33
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Travel photography advice
Sony TX5 Travel photography advice
72
environment sealing
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery pack (240 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly display
62
environment proofing
includes focus by touch
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (148 grams)
low MP (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography highlights
Sony TX5 Landscape photography highlights
54
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
not so great battery pack (240 per charge)
43
manual focus
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
lack of RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony TX5 as a Vlogging camera
36
fairly wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing external mic port
30
really wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
heavier than competition (148g)
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony TX5
 Pentax WG-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax WG-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5
Type Waterproof Ultracompact
Introduced 2013-07-19 2010-02-18
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - 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 surface area 28.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 125 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.5-6.3
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.40 m 2.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 gr (0.51 lbs) 148 gr (0.33 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 94 x 57 x 18mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/ Pro HG-Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch cost $300 $239