• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 16.0 megapixels
  • 25.00mm - 100.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1 inch 116.2mm2
  • 20.2 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 84.00mm (35mm eq.)

Buy From

Differences

Pentax WG-3 advantages over Canon G9X

  • Waterproof
    Yes vs No
    Take photos underwater without destroying your camera!
  • More telephoto lens reach
    100 mm vs 84 mm
    Capture objects farther away
  • Wider angle lens
    25 mm vs 28 mm
    Capture more of the scene
  • Faster shutter
    1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Canon G9X advantages over Pentax WG-3

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    1 inch vs 1/2.3 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 2.41 vs 1.34 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • 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
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Integrated ND filter
    Yes vs No
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • More dots on screen
    1040k vs 460k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • More pixels
    20.2 vs 16.0 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
  • Higher extended ISO
    12800 vs 6400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • 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

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Hot shoe
    Neither provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax WG-3
Pentax WG-3
All WG-3 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon G9X
Canon G9X (Silver)
  • Canon G9X (Silver)
  • Canon G9X (Black)
All G9X Deals

Review Excerpt

  • Smallest 1-inch sensor camera available; Slips in a pants pocket almost unnoticed; Bright lens at wide-angle; Great image quality; Swift 6.5 fps JPEG burst shooting; Intuitive touch-screen control; In-camera Wi-Fi gets images onto your phone easily

  • Limited 3x zoom range; Tighter wide-angle than competitors; JPEG buffer limited to 10 frames; very slow bracketing / raw burst shooting; Touch-screen menus take lots of tapping; Poor battery life

  • Read our Canon G9X Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon S110

Pentax WG-3
Canon S110
  • $289
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Waterproof
  • $249
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax WG-3 vs Canon S110

Canon G9X
Canon S110
  • $369
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $249
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Shoots 24p video

Compare Canon G9X vs Canon S110

Compared to Pentax WG-3 GPS

Pentax WG-3
Pentax WG-3 GPS
  • $289
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • $229
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Built-in GPS

Compare Pentax WG-3 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS

Canon G9X
Pentax WG-3 GPS
  • $369
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $229
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Canon G9X vs Pentax WG-3 GPS

Compared to Ricoh WG-4 GPS

Pentax WG-3
Ricoh WG-4 GPS
  • $289
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • $380
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Built-in GPS

Compare Pentax WG-3 vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS

Canon G9X
Ricoh WG-4 GPS
  • $369
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $380
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Canon G9X vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS

Compared to Ricoh WG-5 GPS

Pentax WG-3
Ricoh WG-5 GPS
  • $289
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • $297
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Built-in GPS

Compare Pentax WG-3 vs Ricoh WG-5 GPS

Canon G9X
Ricoh WG-5 GPS
  • $369
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $297
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Canon G9X vs Ricoh WG-5 GPS

Compared to Canon G9X Mark II

Pentax WG-3
Canon G9X Mark II
  • $289
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $449
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Pentax WG-3 vs Canon G9X Mark II

Canon G9X
Canon G9X Mark II
  • $369
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger RAW buffer
  • $449
  • 1 inch
  • Fast startup
  • Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Canon G9X vs Canon G9X Mark II

Compare Other Cameras?