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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A55

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A55 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
  • Announced July 2013
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched August 2010
  • Renewed by Sony A57
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A55 Overview

In this article, we will be contrasting the Pentax WG-3 and Sony A55, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the WG-3 (16MP) and the A55 (16MP) is pretty close but the WG-3 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The WG-3 was launched 2 years after the A55 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the WG-3 matches up vs the A55 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Sony A55

 WG-3 A55 
LaunchedJuly 2013August 2010Newer by 36 months

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Pentax WG-3

 A55 WG-3 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Sony A55

 WG-3 A55 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. 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) and the Sony A55 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Pentax WG-3 and Sony A55 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the WG-3 compared to the A55.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the WG-3 and A55 is 90 and 67 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by viewing a spec sheet. The image below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-3 and A55.

As you can see, both of the cameras offer the same exact resolution albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The WG-3 provides the smaller sensor which will make achieving shallow DOF trickier. The newer WG-3 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A55 as a Portrait photography camera
41
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
73
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Street photography info
Sony A55 Street photography info
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
77
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A55 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (240 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
not so great battery power (380 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Travel photography features
Sony A55 Travel photography features
72
weather sealing
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
terrible battery life (240 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly display
62
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery power (380 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography information
Sony A55 Landscape photography information
54
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
no manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
terrible battery life (240 shots)
67
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
not so great battery power (380 shots)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Vlogging features
Sony A55 Vlogging features
36
relatively wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing microphone jack
78
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone port
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony A55
 Pentax WG-3Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax WG-3 Sony SLT-A55
Category Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2013-07-19 2010-08-24
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 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 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.40 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings 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 sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 grams (0.51 lbs) 500 grams (1.10 lbs)
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 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 816
Other
Battery life 240 photographs 380 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $300 $800