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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W530

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
21
Overall
30

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W530 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 W530
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 113g - 93 x 53 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2011
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W530 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W530, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Ultracompact by rivals Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the WG-3 (16MP) and the W530 (14MP) is very well matched and both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The WG-3 was introduced 2 years after the W530 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony W530 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the WG-3 grades versus the W530 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Sony W530

 WG-3 W530 
AnnouncedJuly 2013January 2011More modern by 31 months
Focus manually More exact focus
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W530 over the Pentax WG-3

 W530 WG-3 

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Sony W530

 WG-3 W530 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W530 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Pentax WG-3 has got outside 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 W530 has proportions of 93mm x 53mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 113 grams (0.25 lbs).

Compare the Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W530 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the WG-3 and the W530.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W530 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the WG-3 and W530 is 90 and 96 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W530 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W530 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizes just by reading through specs. The image below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-3 and W530.

All in all, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Pentax WG-3 to give more detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics more aggressively. The younger WG-3 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W530 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W530 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W530 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3
Portrait photography with Sony W530
41
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
28
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony W530 as a Street photography camera
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
48
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography features
Sony W530 Sports photography features
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery life (240 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
26
good megapixels (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Travel photography details
Sony W530 Travel photography details
72
environment proof
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
low battery life (240 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly display
65
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography information
Sony W530 Landscape photography information
54
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
low battery life (240 CIPA)
33
relatively wide (26mm)
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W530 as a Vlogging camera
36
quite wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly display
lack of external mic jack
26
relatively wide (26mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of mic socket
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W530 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony W530
 Pentax WG-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax WG-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530
Type Waterproof Ultracompact
Revealed 2013-07-19 2011-01-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
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 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
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) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.40 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
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) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic 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 230 grams (0.51 lb) 113 grams (0.25 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 93 x 53 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
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 -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI92 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $300 $269