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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A35

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony SLT-A35 front
Portability
69
Imaging
56
Features
70
Overall
61

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A35 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
  • Launched July 2013
Sony A35
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 415g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Announced September 2011
  • Superseded the Sony A33
  • Replacement is Sony A37
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A35 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A35, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the WG-3 (16MP) and the A35 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the WG-3 (1/2.3") and A35 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The WG-3 was announced 23 months later than the A35 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A35 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the WG-3 scores versus the A35 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Sony A35

 WG-3 A35 
AnnouncedJuly 2013September 2011More recent by 23 months

Reasons to pick Sony A35 over the Pentax WG-3

 A35 WG-3 
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Sony A35

 WG-3 A35 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A35 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Pentax WG-3 provides physical measurements of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Sony A35 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 415 grams (0.91 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A35 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the WG-3 compared to the A35.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A35 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the WG-3 and A35 is 90 and 69 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A35 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A35 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements merely by seeing specs. The photograph below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-3 and A35.

All in all, both of those cameras posses the exact same resolution albeit not the same sensor measurements. The WG-3 comes with the smaller sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF more difficult. The more recent WG-3 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A35 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A35 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A35 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography advice
Sony A35 Portrait photography advice
41
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
73
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Street photography advice
Sony A35 Street photography advice
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
71
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than others (415g)
above average high ISO (25,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A35 as a Sports photography camera
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (240 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
61
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
slow frames per second (6.0 fps)
terrible battery power (440 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Travel photography factors
Sony A35 Travel photography factors
72
environment sealing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery pack (240 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
58
lighter than others (415g)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (440 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography information
Sony A35 Landscape photography information
54
has manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
not so great battery pack (240 shots)
69
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
terrible battery power (440 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax WG-3
Vlogging with Sony A35
36
pretty wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone support
36
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic socket
lighter than others (415 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A35 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony A35
 Pentax WG-3Sony SLT-A35
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax WG-3 Sony SLT-A35
Type Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2013-07-19 2011-09-20
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.40 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 gr (0.51 lb) 415 gr (0.91 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 74
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 763
Other
Battery life 240 pictures 440 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch cost $300 $598