• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 16.0 megapixels
  • 25.00mm - 100.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 35mm 864.0mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 50 - 50,000

Buy From

Differences

Pentax WG-3 GPS advantages over Leica SL (Typ 601)

  • Waterproof
    Yes vs No
    Take photos underwater without destroying your camera!
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Lighter weight
    239g vs 847g
    Lighter weight

Leica SL (Typ 601) advantages over Pentax WG-3 GPS

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    35mm 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
    ~ 6.00 vs 1.34 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (DCI) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • RAW file ability
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Fast startup
    ~1.10 vs 2.0 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 400 vs 240 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
  • More dots on screen
    1040k vs 460k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • More pixels
    24.2 vs 16.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Longer exposure
    60 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
    10.6 fps vs 1.5 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    Unlimited vs 60 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    50000 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
  • Built-in GPS
    Both provide
    Geotag your photos
  • 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

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Tiltable Screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • 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

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Eye-catching, aggressive styling; Digital Microscope mode with 6 LED ring light; Improved ruggedness; Front-panel monochrome LCD readout; Can power up via inductive charging.

  • Struggles in low-light situations despite bright f/2 max lens aperture; So-so image and video quality; User interface has steep learning curve; Poor battery life.

  • Superb build quality; Amazing EVF; Great image quality from RAW files; Good high ISO performance; Very good dynamic range; Very low shutter lag; Fast AF on stationary objects; Class-leading ~11 fps burst mode; 4K DCI and UHD video; Full HD up to 120p. Built-in Wi-Fi and GPS; Dual card slots; Decent battery life for its class.

  • Big for a full-frame mirrorless camera; Very slow buffer clearing; Contrast-detect AF system struggles with moving subjects; In-camera JPEGs are muted and dull; Very limited native lens selection (but supports many other Leica lenses via adapters); Expensive.

The Competition

Compared to Pentax WG-3

Pentax WG-3 GPS
Pentax WG-3
  • $229
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Built-in GPS
  • $289
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
Leica SL (Typ 601)
Pentax WG-3
  • $3802
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $289
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compared to Ricoh WG-4 GPS

Pentax WG-3 GPS
Ricoh WG-4 GPS
  • $229
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • $380
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
  • Slow-motion videos
Leica SL (Typ 601)
Ricoh WG-4 GPS
  • $3802
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $380
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compared to Ricoh WG-4

Pentax WG-3 GPS
Ricoh WG-4
  • $229
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Built-in GPS
  • $330
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
  • Slow-motion videos
Leica SL (Typ 601)
Ricoh WG-4
  • $3802
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $330
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compared to Leica M-D (Typ 262)

Pentax WG-3 GPS
Leica M-D (Typ 262)
  • $229
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Rear display
  • Less expensive
  • $5995
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
Leica SL (Typ 601)
Leica M-D (Typ 262)
  • $3802
  • 35mm
  • Rear display
  • Focus peaking
  • $5995
  • 35mm

Compared to Sony A9

Pentax WG-3 GPS
Sony A9
  • $229
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $2995
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Leica SL (Typ 601)
Sony A9
  • $3802
  • 35mm
  • Built-in GPS
  • Top deck display
  • $2995
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
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