Sony A57 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS

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Sony A57 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS

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APS-C 369.7mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 16,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A57 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the A57.

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
16.0 megapixels
25.00mm - 100.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Pentax WG-3 GPS Review.
See real-world photos taken with the WG-3 GPS.

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Differences

Sony A57 advantages over Pentax WG-3 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 1.34 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
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
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

550 vs 240 shots
Capture more photos
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
More dots on screen
922k vs 460k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
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
10.0 fps vs 1.5 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Pentax WG-3 GPS advantages over Sony A57

Less expensive
$350 vs $800 (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
33 mm vs 80 mm
Thinner
Bigger JPEG buffer
60 vs 25 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

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
In-camera panoramas
Both provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
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
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
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

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A57 User Reviews

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Pentax WG-3 GPS

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Review Excerpt

We haven’t finished our review of the Sony A57, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
See our Sony A57 First Shots

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.
Read our Pentax WG-3 GPS Express Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D5100

Sony A57

Nikon D5100

$800
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$650
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A57 vs Nikon D5100

Pentax WG-3 GPS

Nikon D5100

$229
1/2.3 inch

Waterproof
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$650
APS-C

Larger sensor
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Nikon D5100

Compared to Sony A37

Sony A57

Sony A37

$800
APS-C

Longer stills battery life
Higher-res screen

$600
APS-C

Less expensive
External Mic Jack

Compare Sony A57 vs Sony A37

Pentax WG-3 GPS

Sony A37

$229
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Waterproof

$600
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony A37

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Sony A57

Pentax K-5 IIs

$800
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

Compare Sony A57 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Pentax WG-3 GPS

Pentax K-5 IIs

$229
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Waterproof

$497
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Compared to Ricoh WG-4 GPS

Sony A57

Ricoh WG-4 GPS

$800
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$380
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Waterproof

Compare Sony A57 vs 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

Compare Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS

Compared to Ricoh WG-4

Sony A57

Ricoh WG-4

$800
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$330
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Waterproof

Compare Sony A57 vs 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

Compare Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh WG-4

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