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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A57

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A57 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
  • Released July 2013
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Released September 2012
  • Old Model is Sony A55
  • Updated by Sony A58
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A57 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A57, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the WG-3 (16MP) and the A57 (16MP) is pretty close but the WG-3 (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) use different sensor sizing.

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The WG-3 was brought out 11 months after the A57 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the WG-3 matches up against the A57 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Sony A57

 WG-3 A57 
ReleasedJuly 2013September 2012More modern by 11 months

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Pentax WG-3

 A57 WG-3 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Sony A57

 WG-3 A57 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax WG-3 has got 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) while the Sony A57 has measurements of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") having a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Check the Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A57 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the WG-3 versus the A57.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the WG-3 and A57 is 90 and 64 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes merely by looking through specifications. The image underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-3 and A57.

Plainly, both of these cameras have got the exact same MP albeit different sensor sizes. The WG-3 contains the smaller sensor which should make achieving shallower DOF harder. The fresher WG-3 should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3
Portrait photography with Sony A57
41
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
provides face detection focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
74
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Street photography highlights
Sony A57 Street photography highlights
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
75
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography advice
Sony A57 Sports photography advice
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery power (240 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking focus
has phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A57 as a Travel photography camera
72
environment proofing
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
bad battery power (240 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
67
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
lack of Time Lapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax WG-3
Landscape photography with Sony A57
54
manual focus
really wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
environment proofing
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
bad battery power (240 CIPA)
72
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Vlogging advice
Sony A57 Vlogging advice
36
really wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic jack
77
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic support
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony A57
 Pentax WG-3Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax WG-3 Sony SLT-A57
Category Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2013-07-19 2012-09-13
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
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 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 16000
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per second 12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.40 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options 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
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230 gr (0.51 lbs) 618 gr (1.36 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 785
Other
Battery life 240 pictures 550 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at release $300 $1,000