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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony WX1

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 front
Portability
96
Imaging
33
Features
18
Overall
27

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony WX1 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 WX1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 149g - 91 x 52 x 20mm
  • Announced August 2009
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony WX1 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Pentax WG-3 and Sony WX1, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Pentax and Sony. There exists a big gap among the image resolutions of the WG-3 (16MP) and WX1 (10MP) and the WG-3 (1/2.3") and WX1 (1/2.4") have different sensor sizing.

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The WG-3 was introduced 4 years later than the WX1 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony WX1 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short overview of how the WG-3 matches up versus the WX1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Sony WX1

 WG-3 WX1 
AnnouncedJuly 2013August 2009More recent by 49 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony WX1 over the Pentax WG-3

 WX1 WG-3 

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Sony WX1

 WG-3 WX1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony WX1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and measurements. The Pentax WG-3 has outer dimensions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Sony WX1 has proportions of 91mm x 52mm x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8") with a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Compare the Pentax WG-3 and Sony WX1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the WG-3 compared to the WX1.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony WX1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the WG-3 and WX1 is 90 and 96 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony WX1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony WX1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to picture the difference in sensor measurements only by checking out specs. The visual below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-3 and WX1.

As you can plainly see, both cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The WG-3 with its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Pentax WG-3 will show more detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots way more aggressively. The fresher WG-3 provides an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony WX1 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony WX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony WX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony WX1 as a Portrait photography camera
41
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
includes face detection autofocus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
19
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.4")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX1 as a Street photography camera
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.4")
lack of RAW format
heavier than others in class (149g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography details
Sony WX1 Sports photography details
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (240 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.4")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax WG-3
Travel photography with Sony WX1
72
environment sealing
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
low battery (240 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
56
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (149 grams)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography factors
Sony WX1 Landscape photography factors
54
manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery (240 CIPA)
31
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.4")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax WG-3
Vlogging with Sony WX1
36
relatively wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
28
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
heavier than others in class (149 grams)
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony WX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony WX1
 Pentax WG-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax WG-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
Category Waterproof Ultracompact
Revealed 2013-07-19 2009-08-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 125 160
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
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) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.4-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.40 m 5.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230 gr (0.51 lbs) 149 gr (0.33 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 91 x 52 x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8")
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 -
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 One One
Cost at launch $300 $149