CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
  • LENSES
  • TOOLS
    • Smart Find
    • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Size Comparison
  • BRANDS
    • Sony Cameras
    • Canon Cameras
    • Nikon Cameras
    • Pentax Cameras
    • Fujifilm Cameras
    • Olympus Cameras
    • Panasonic Cameras
    • Leica Cameras
    • Samsung Cameras
  • BODY TYPE
    • Mirrorless Cameras
    • DSLR Cameras
    • Compact Cameras
    • Bridge Cameras
    • Waterproof Cameras

Nikon S9100 vs Pentax WG-3 Comparison

x
Camera to replace
Change

Nikon S9100

12 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Nikon S9100
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Change

Pentax WG-3

16 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Pentax WG-3
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Nikon S9100 vs Pentax WG-3 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Nikon S9100, which was introduced in July 2011 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Pentax WG-3, which was introduced in July 2013 is a Waterproof camera with a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. As you can see, S9100 is 2 years older than WG-3. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon S9100 and Pentax WG-3 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon S9100 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2011-07-19
  • 12MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • 25-450 mm F3.5-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 10 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 240fps High-Speed Video
  • 214g. 105 x 62 x 35 mm

Pentax WG-3 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-07-19
  • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 25-100 mm F2.0-4.9 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 10 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 230g. 124 x 64 x 33 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Nikon S9100 was replaced by Nikon Coolpix S9300. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon Coolpix S9300 vs Nikon Coolpix S9100
Nikon Coolpix S9300 vs Pentax WG-3

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon S9100 and Pentax WG-3 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix S9100 over Pentax WG-3
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 460k dots 100% higher resolution screen
Battery Life
270 shots vs 240 shots 30 more frames with a single charge
Weight
214 g vs 230 g 16 g lighter
Focal Length - Tele
450mm vs 100mm 350 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
18× vs 4× more flexible focal coverage
Flash Coverage
4.0m vs 3.4m 0.6m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area
2.34µm2 vs 1.76µm2 32% larger pixel area


Reasons to choose Pentax WG-3 over Nikon Coolpix S9100
Max Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
Max ISO
6.400 vs 3.200 100% higher Max ISO
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Max Aperture - Wide
2.00 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
4.90 vs 5.90 faster lens at tele

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix S9100 and Pentax WG-3
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs Sensor-shift Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 10.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix S9100 and Pentax WG-3
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder
None vs None No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
Manual Exposure
No vs No No manual exposure control
New4
Nikon S9100 vs Pentax WG-3: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Nikon S9100 and Pentax WG-3 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon S9100 has external dimensions of 105 x 62 x 35 mm (4.13 x 2.44 x 1.38″) and weighs 214 g (0.47 lb / 7.55 oz) (including batteries). Pentax WG-3 has external dimensions of 124 x 64 x 33 mm (4.9 x 2.5 x 1.3″) and weighs 230 g (0.51 lb / 8.11 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon S9100 and Pentax WG-3. Nikon S9100 is 19mm narrower and 2mm shorter than Pentax WG-3 but it is also 2mm thicker.

Nikon S9100 vs Pentax WG-3 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Pentax WG-3 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon S9100 and Pentax WG-3.

Nikon S9100 vs Pentax WG-3 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Pentax WG-3 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon S9100 and Pentax WG-3.
Nikon S9100 vs Pentax WG-3 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Pentax WG-3 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon S9100 is 16g lighter than the Pentax WG-3 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

S9100
WG-3
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

S9100
WG-3
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon S9100 and Pentax WG-3's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Nikon S9100 vs Pentax WG-3: Sensor Comparison

Nikon S9100 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Expeed C2 processor. On the other hand, Pentax WG-3 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the S9100 and WG-3 sensor size comparison.

Nikon S9100 vs Pentax WG-3 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Pentax WG-3 Cameras


Nikon S9100 and Pentax WG-3 have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Nikon S9100 has 32% larger pixel area compared to Pentax WG-3, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon S9100 vs Pentax WG-3 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon S9100 features a 25-450 mm F3.5-5.9 18× zoom lens whereas Pentax WG-3 features a 25-100 mm F2.0-4.9 4× zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 25mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.00, Pentax WG-3 is faster than Nikon S9100 at this focal length. On the tele end, Nikon S9100 has 350mm longer reach than the Pentax WG-3. However, with a max aperture of f4.90, Pentax WG-3 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

S9100
WG-3
Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

S9100
WG-3
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

S9100
WG-3
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

S9100
WG-3
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon S9100 and Pentax WG-3 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon S9100 and Pentax WG-3 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon S9100 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Pentax WG-3 for Portrait Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Street Photography

GOOD

Pentax WG-3 for Street Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.00
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Sports Photography

POOR

Pentax WG-3 for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
450 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 270 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 240 shots
100 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Pentax WG-3 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Compact Body
214g
18.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Compact Body
230g
Environmental Sealings
4.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Pentax WG-3 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Manual Focus Mode
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Manual Focus Mode
Environmental Sealings
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details

Nikon S9100 vs Pentax WG-3: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon S9100 and Pentax WG-3, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon S9100 and Pentax WG-3 scores compare:

Nikon S9100
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #174 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #727 out of 1223 in all Cameras
Pentax WG-3
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #52 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #470 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Pentax WG-3 has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon S9100 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon S9100
Nikon S9100
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Pentax WG-3
Pentax WG-3
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Pentax WG-3 vs Nikon S9100 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix S9100 Pentax WG-3
Brand Nikon Pentax
Announced 2011-07-19 2013-07-19
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size 1/2.3-inch 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 28.07mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 160 ISO 125 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 9 9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 25-450 mm (18×) 25-100 mm (4×)
Max Aperture F3.5-5.9 F2.0-4.9
Macro Focus Range 4cm 1cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 921k dots 460k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 4.00 m 3.40 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 10.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 214g 230g
Dimensions 105 x 62 x 35mm 124 x 64 x 33mm
Battery Life 270 shots 240 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
Report a correction Report a correction


FOLLOW US


Most Popular Cameras
Nikon Z7
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Sony A6000
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Sony E Mount
Sony A7 III
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Fujifilm X-T3
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Canon R
30 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Sony A6400
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Sony E Mount
Nikon D5600
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Nikon F Mount
Nikon D850
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon F Mount
Top Rated Compact Cameras
Top Compact Cameras Under $200
Top Compact Cameras Under $500
Top Compact Cameras Under $750
Top Compact Cameras Under $1000
Top Rated Waterproof Cameras
Top Waterproof Cameras Under $200
Top Waterproof Cameras Under $500
Top Waterproof Cameras Under $750
Top Waterproof Cameras Under $1000
Latest Cameras
Fujifilm GFX 100S
102 MP | Medium format Sensor | Fujifilm G Mount
Fujifilm X-E4
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Sony a1
50 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Leica SL2-S
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Leica Q2 Monochrom
47 MP | Full frame Sensor | 28 mm
Fujifilm X-S10
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Nikon Z7 II
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Nikon Z6 II
25 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Copyright © 2021 by CameraDecision
About Feedback Privacy Cameras

Report a Correction