Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W550

Here, we are reviewing the Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W550, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Ultracompact by rivals Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the WG-3 (16MP) and the W550 (14MP) is very similar and both cameras have the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The WG-3 was released 2 years later than the W550 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short highlight of how the WG-3 scores against the W550 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax WG-3 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550. The complete galleries are viewable at Pentax WG-3 Gallery and Sony W550 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to carry your camera often, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax WG-3 offers physical measurements 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 W550 has proportions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Compare the Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W550 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use at the time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the WG-3 vs the W550.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 and W550 is 90 and 96 respectively.

Generally, its difficult to see the difference between sensor sizing just by going over a spec sheet. The graphic below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-3 and W550.

As you can see, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Pentax WG-3 to offer extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The younger WG-3 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.