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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A99

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A99 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 A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Introduced December 2012
  • Superseded the Sony A900
  • Newer Model is Sony A99 II
Photography Glossary

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A99 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Pentax WG-3 versus Sony A99, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the WG-3 (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the WG-3 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) boast different sensor sizing.

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The WG-3 was brought out 8 months later than the A99 so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras have different body design with the Pentax WG-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the WG-3 scores versus the A99 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Sony A99

 WG-3 A99 
IntroducedJuly 2013December 2012Fresher by 8 months

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Pentax WG-3

 A99 WG-3 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k460kClearer screen (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 and Sony A99

 WG-3 A99 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Pentax WG-3 offers external measurements of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Sony A99 has proportions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Check out the Pentax WG-3 versus Sony A99 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the WG-3 vs the A99.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 and A99 is 90 and 57 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing purely by checking a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-3 and A99.

Clearly, both of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The WG-3 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Sony A99 will resolve extra detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots more aggressively. The newer WG-3 provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A99 Portrait photography highlights
41
manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
81
has manual focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Street photography info
Sony A99 Street photography info
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
75
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Sports photography highlights
Sony A99 Sports photography highlights
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (240 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
terrible battery power (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax WG-3
Travel photography with Sony A99
72
weather proof
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery (240 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
60
weather sealing
good MP (24 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
does not have Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A99 as a Landscape photography camera
54
manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
weather proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
not so great battery (240 per charge)
74
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
terrible battery power (500 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 Vlogging details
Sony A99 Vlogging details
36
rather wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone port
76
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic jack
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Pentax WG-3 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 and Sony A99
 Pentax WG-3Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax WG-3 Sony SLT-A99
Category Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2013-07-19 2012-12-12
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.40 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/250 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 gr (0.51 lb) 812 gr (1.79 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 89
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1555
Other
Battery life 240 images 500 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots 1 Dual
Price at launch $300 $1,998