• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 14.0 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 140.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000

Buy From

Differences

Pentax WG-1 GPS advantages over Sony A37

  • Less expensive
    $400 vs $600 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Waterproof
    Yes vs No
    Take photos underwater without destroying your camera!
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Thinner
    28 mm vs 84 mm
    Thinner

Sony A37 advantages over Pentax WG-1 GPS

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 4.82 vs 1.44 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • RAW file ability
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Fast startup
    ~0.90 vs 2.2 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 450 vs 260 shots
    Capture more photos
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • Less shutter lag
    0.11 vs 0.35 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    16.1 vs 14.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Longer exposure
    30 vs 4 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    5.5 fps vs 0.7 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/4000 vs 1/1500 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 6400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax WG-1 GPS
Pentax WG-1 GPS

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A37

Review Excerpt

  • Weatherproof; Rugged; Built-in GPS; 5x zoom in a small size; Fast shutter lag.

  • Excessive noise processing at low ISO; Poor video quality; GPS punishes battery life; Electronic image stabilization only.

  • Read our Pentax WG-1 GPS Express Review

The Competition

Compared to Pentax I-10

Pentax WG-1 GPS
Pentax I-10
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Built-in GPS
  • $300
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Pentax I-10

Sony A37
Pentax I-10
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $300
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner

Compare Sony A37 vs Pentax I-10

Compared to Pentax W90

Pentax WG-1 GPS
Pentax W90
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Built-in GPS
  • $330
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Pentax W90

Sony A37
Pentax W90
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $330
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner

Compare Sony A37 vs Pentax W90

Compared to Pentax WG-1

Pentax WG-1 GPS
Pentax WG-1
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Built-in GPS
  • $260
  • 1/2.3 inch

Compare Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Pentax WG-1

Sony A37
Pentax WG-1
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $260
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Waterproof

Compare Sony A37 vs Pentax WG-1

Compared to Sony A57

Pentax WG-1 GPS
Sony A57
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Waterproof
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Sony A57

Sony A37
Sony A57
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • External Mic Jack
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Higher-res screen

Compare Sony A37 vs Sony A57

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Pentax WG-1 GPS
Pentax K-5 IIs
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Waterproof
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Sony A37
Pentax K-5 IIs
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compare Sony A37 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Compare Other Cameras?