Clicky

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX9

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX9 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
  • Revealed July 2013
Sony TX9
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 149g - 98 x 60 x 18mm
  • Announced July 2010
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX9 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Pentax WG-3 versus Sony TX9, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Pentax and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the WG-3 (16MP) and TX9 (12MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The WG-3 was manufactured 3 years later than the TX9 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony TX9 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short summary of how the WG-3 scores versus the TX9 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Sony TX9

 WG-3 TX9 
AnnouncedJuly 2013July 2010More recent by 37 months

Reasons to pick Sony TX9 over the Pentax WG-3

 TX9 WG-3 
Display dimensions3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution922k460kClearer display (+462k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Sony TX9

 WG-3 TX9 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX9 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and size. The Pentax WG-3 comes with outer measurements of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Sony TX9 has specifications of 98mm x 60mm x 18mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.7") with a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax WG-3 versus Sony TX9 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the WG-3 against the TX9.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX9 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the WG-3 and TX9 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX9 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX9 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements simply by viewing specifications. The visual below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-3 and TX9.

Plainly, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can anticipate the Pentax WG-3 to provide you with greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more recent WG-3 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX9 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX9 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography details
Sony TX9 Portrait photography details
41
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
27
focusing manually
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Street photography highlights
Sony TX9 Street photography highlights
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
60
image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus by touch
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than competition in class (149g)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography advice
Sony TX9 Sports photography advice
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (240 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
34
image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Travel photography details
Sony TX9 Travel photography details
72
weather proofing
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
low battery power (240 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
offers focus by touch
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (149 grams)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography advice
Sony TX9 Landscape photography advice
54
you can focus manually
decently wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
weather proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
low battery power (240 CIPA)
41
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
very good size screen (3.5 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Vlogging advice
Sony TX9 Vlogging advice
36
decently wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone socket
32
quite wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly display
does not have external mic jack
heavier than competition in class (149 grams)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony TX9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony TX9
 Pentax WG-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax WG-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9
Class Waterproof Ultracompact
Revealed 2013-07-19 2010-07-08
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 125 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.5-4.6
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3.5 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 2 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.40 m 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
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 pounds) 149 gr (0.33 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 98 x 60 x 18mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.7")
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 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI92 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $300 $799