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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W690

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W690 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
  • Announced July 2013
Sony W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Introduced February 2012
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W690 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Pentax WG-3 and Sony W690, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the WG-3 (16MP) and the W690 (16MP) is fairly close and both cameras provide the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The WG-3 was announced 17 months after the W690 making them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a simple summary of how the WG-3 scores vs the W690 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Sony W690

 WG-3 W690 
IntroducedJuly 2013February 2012Newer by 17 months
Manually focus More precise focus
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Pentax WG-3

 W690 WG-3 

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Sony W690

 WG-3 W690 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W690 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Pentax WG-3 has outer 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 W690 has specifications of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax WG-3 and Sony W690 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the WG-3 against the W690.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W690 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the WG-3 and W690 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W690 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W690 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions simply by looking through specs. The picture below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-3 and W690.

All in all, each of these cameras come with the identical sensor size and the same exact resolution therefore you should expect comparable quality of files but you need to consider the production date of the cameras into account. The more recent WG-3 provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W690 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W690 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W690 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W690 as a Portrait photography camera
41
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
no manual control
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
34
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Street photography advice
Sony W690 Street photography advice
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
57
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography factors
Sony W690 Sports photography factors
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (240 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
includes tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Travel photography advice
Sony W690 Travel photography advice
72
weather proofing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
bad battery power (240 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
68
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W690 as a Landscape photography camera
54
has manual focus
really wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery power (240 CIPA)
43
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Vlogging info
Sony W690 Vlogging info
36
really wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone socket
31
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic port
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony W690 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony W690
 Pentax WG-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax WG-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-07-19 2012-02-28
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - 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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.40 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230 grams (0.51 lb) 142 grams (0.31 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 220 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $300 $297