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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W230

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W230 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
  • Revealed July 2013
Sony W230
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Released February 2009
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W230 Overview

Following is a extended review of the Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W230, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the WG-3 (16MP) and W230 (12MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The WG-3 was brought out 4 years after the W230 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief overview of how the WG-3 scores versus the W230 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Sony W230

 WG-3 W230 
ReleasedJuly 2013February 2009More modern by 54 months
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Pentax WG-3

 W230 WG-3 

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Sony W230

 WG-3 W230 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax WG-3 provides exterior dimensions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Sony W230 has sizing of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

See the Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W230 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the WG-3 versus the W230.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W230 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 and W230 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizes only by viewing a spec sheet. The image here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-3 and W230.

As you can see, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Pentax WG-3 to result in extra detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more recent WG-3 will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3
Portrait photography with Sony W230
41
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
27
you can focus manually
no manual control
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony W230 as a Street photography camera
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W230 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
environment proofing
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (240 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Travel photography info
Sony W230 Travel photography info
72
environment proofing
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
bad battery power (240 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (30mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W230 as a Landscape photography camera
54
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
environment proofing
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
bad battery power (240 per charge)
36
you can focus manually
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (30mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W230 as a Vlogging camera
36
reasonably wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic port
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (30mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony W230
 Pentax WG-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model Pentax WG-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-07-19 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
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) 30-120mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-5.8
Macro focus range 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 1s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.40 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230g (0.51 lbs) 156g (0.34 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 shots -
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 type SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $300 $180