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Pentax WG-2 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Pentax WG-2

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    Main Features

    • 16MP - 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS Sensor
    • ISO 125 - 6400
    • 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 Zoom Lens
    • 3" Fixed Type Screen
    • 1 fps continuous shooting
    • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video
    • 192g. 122 x 61 x 30 mm
    • Weather Sealed Body
    CHECK PRICE
    CHECK PRICE

    Pentax WG-2 Overview

    First introduced in February 2012 , Pentax Optio WG-2 is a 16.0MP Waterproof camera with a 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 lens.

    Pentax WG-2 Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Sensor and Photography Features
    4. Physical Specs
    5. LCD and Viewfinder
    6. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    7. Video
    8. Other Features
    9. Lens
    10. Photography Type Scores
    11. Alternatives
    12. Popular Comparisons
    13. Frequently Asked Questions
    14. Detailed Specifications

    Pentax WG-2 has an Overall Score of 46/100 and ranked #94 out of 629 in Compact cameras (Top 10 Waterproof), and ranked #565 out of 1220 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.



    Pentax WG-2 Physical Specs
    Pentax WG-2 weighs 192 g (0.42 lb / 6.77 oz) and has external dimensions of 122 x 61 x 30 mm (4.8 x 2.4 x 1.18″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, its weight is about average in its class. With a thickness of 30mm, it also has an average thickness.
    Weight Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Pentax WG-2
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Pentax WG-2
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Here is the front and top view image of Pentax WG-2 with the dimensions:

    Pentax WG-2 Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Pentax WG-2 Camera Body

    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Pentax WG-2, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Pentax WG-2 Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Pentax WG-2 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

    Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Pentax WG-2 with its main competitors:

    Pentax WG-2 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs WG-2 Thickness vs WG-2
    Pentax Optio WG-2 Camera Ricoh WG-M1
    Compare
    190g 2g lighter 89mm 59mm thicker
    Pentax Optio WG-2 Camera Olympus TG-5
    Compare
    250g 58g heavier 32mm 2mm thicker
    Pentax Optio WG-2 Camera Pentax WG-3 GPS
    Compare
    238g 46g heavier 33mm 3mm thicker
    Pentax Optio WG-2 Camera Ricoh WG-70
    Compare
    193g 1g heavier 30mm equal thickness
    Pentax Optio WG-2 Camera Ricoh WG-50
    Compare
    193g 1g heavier 30mm equal thickness
    Pentax Optio WG-2 Camera Pentax WG-3
    Compare
    230g 38g heavier 33mm 3mm thicker
    Pentax Optio WG-2 Camera Olympus TG-6
    Compare
    253g 61g heavier 32mm 2mm thicker
    Pentax Optio WG-2 Camera Ricoh WG-20
    Compare
    164g 28g lighter 28mm 2mm thinner

    Weather Sealing

    Pentax WG-2 has environmental sealings (waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, freezeproof)

    Pentax WG-2 Sensor and Photography Features

    Pentax WG-2 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4288 x 3216 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9. WG-2 has a native ISO range of 125 - 6400 but unfortunately, Pentax WG-2 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider Nikon Coolpix P7100 or Canon PowerShot S120 in the same price range.

    Pentax WG-2 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Pentax WG-2 vs Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 or take a look at Highest resolution Waterproof cameras list.

    Let's look at how the size of the Pentax WG-2's 1/2.3" sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Pentax WG-2 Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Pentax WG-2 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

    Pentax WG-2 Lens

    Pentax WG-2 features a 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 5× zoom lens. Lens has a good wide angle capability starting at 28mm and 140mm reach on tele gives a lot of flexibility and satisfy most of your needs.

    Wide Coverage

    Compact Cameras

    WG-2
    Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
    Average
    Telezoom

    Compact Cameras

    WG-2
    Longest - Canon SX520 HS
    Average

    With a max aperture of f3.50 at 28mm, we can not consider this lens fast on wide end and neither at tele end with its f5.50.

    Max Aperture at Wide

    Compact Cameras

    WG-2
    Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
    Average
    Max Aperture at Tele

    Compact Cameras

    WG-2
    Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
    Average

    Pentax WG-2's lens also has a Manual Focus Mode.



    Pentax WG-2 LCD

    Pentax WG-2 has a Fixed Type 3" LCD screen with a resolution of 460k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.



    Pentax WG-2 back view and LCD

    WG-2 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Nikon Coolpix P7100 (Compare) or Nikon Coolpix P7000 (Compare).
    If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

    Pentax WG-2 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    You can connect WG-2 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

    Battery

    Pentax WG-2 is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 260 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Compact type cameras is 255 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.

    Battery Life Comparison in Waterproof Cameras

    Pentax WG-2
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Olympus TG-4 with its 380shots is the model with longest battery life among Waterproof cameras. Check the comparison of Pentax WG-2 vs Olympus TG-4 or take a look at Longest Battery Life Waterproof cameras list.

    Pentax WG-2 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Pentax Optio WG-2 Camera Ricoh WG-M1
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 350shots Yes No No
    Pentax Optio WG-2 Camera Olympus TG-5
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 340shots Yes No No
    Pentax Optio WG-2 Camera Pentax WG-3 GPS
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 240shots No No No
    Pentax Optio WG-2 Camera Ricoh WG-70
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 300shots No No No
    Pentax Optio WG-2 Camera Ricoh WG-50
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 300shots Yes No No
    Pentax Optio WG-2 Camera Pentax WG-3
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 240shots No No No
    Pentax Optio WG-2 Camera Olympus TG-6
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 340shots Yes No No
    Pentax Optio WG-2 Camera Ricoh WG-20
    Compare
    1280 x 720 260shots No No No

    Pentax WG-2 Video Features

    With Pentax WG-2, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 30 fps and save in MPEG-4 and H.264 formats. Full HD resolution of Pentax WG-2 will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.

    WG-2 has a built-in Mono microphone and a Mono speaker.
    Pentax WG-2 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Nikon Coolpix P7100 or Nikon Coolpix P7000 in a similar price range.

    Pentax WG-2 Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Pentax WG-2 can shoot continuously at max speed of 1 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/4000 sec.

    Flash

    Unfortunately WG-2 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

    Focusing

    Pentax WG-2 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 9 points to choose from.

    Pentax WG-2 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

    Pentax WG-2 PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Pentax WG-2 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Water Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Full HD Video
    Face Detection Focusing
    1/4000s High Shutter Speed
    192g Light Body
    Manual Focusing
    Environmental Sealing
    Timelapse Recording
    Report a correction

    Buy Pentax WG-2 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Image Stabilization
    No Articulating Screen
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Touch Screen
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No RAW Shooting
    Only 9 Focus Points
    Low Screen Resolution ( 460kdots )
    Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
    Low Battery Life: 260 shots
    No Manual Exposure
    Slow Lens at Wide: f3.50
    Slow Lens at Tele: f5.50
    Report a correction
    What type of Photography is Pentax WG-2 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Pentax WG-2 in 5 different photography areas.

    Pentax WG-2 for Portrait Photography

    Pentax WG-2 has a score of 22 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Waterproof Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theWG-2.
    Manual Focus Mode
    Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
    Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
    No Image Stabilization
    No RAW shooting capability
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

    Read the details of how we scored Pentax WG-2 for Portrait Photography

    Pentax WG-2 for Street Photography

    Pentax WG-2 has a score of 42 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Waterproof Cameras for Street Photography list.
    Manual Focus Mode
    Live-view
    Face-Detection Focusing
    28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    Small Body
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Image Stabilization
    No RAW shooting capability
    Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor

    Read the details of how we scored Pentax WG-2 for Street Photography

    Pentax WG-2 for Sports Photography

    Pentax WG-2 has a score of 20 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Waterproof Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theWG-2.
    Environmental Sealings
    Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
    Manual Focus Mode
    140 mm Tele Lens
    Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
    9 Focus Points
    Poor Battery Life: 260 shots
    Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Image Stabilization
    No RAW shooting capability

    Read the details of how we scored Pentax WG-2 for Sports Photography

    Pentax WG-2 for Daily Photography

    Pentax WG-2 has a score of 57 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Waterproof Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Compact Body
    192g
    Environmental Sealings
    5.0X Optical Zoom
    Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
    No RAW shooting capability

    Read the details of how we scored Pentax WG-2 for Daily Photography

    Pentax WG-2 for Landscape Photography

    Pentax WG-2 has a score of 26 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Waterproof Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theWG-2.
    Manual Focus Mode
    28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    Environmental Sealings
    Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    No RAW shooting capability
    Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor

    Read the details of how we scored Pentax WG-2 for Landscape Photography
    Pentax WG-2 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Pentax WG-2 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Pentax WG-2 alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Pentax WG-2

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Pentax WG-2 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Ricoh WG-M1
    Ricoh WG-M1
    Compare
    Olympus TG-5
    Olympus TG-5
    Compare
    Pentax WG-3 GPS
    Pentax WG-3 GPS
    Compare
    Ricoh WG-70
    Ricoh WG-70
    Compare
    Ricoh WG-50
    Ricoh WG-50
    Compare
    Pentax WG-3
    Pentax WG-3
    Compare
    Olympus TG-6
    Olympus TG-6
    Compare
    Ricoh WG-20
    Ricoh WG-20
    Compare

    Pentax WG-2 Alternatives in Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Pentax WG-2 with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Pentax WG-2's price range.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Pentax WG-2
    Does the Pentax WG-2 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Pentax WG-2 have RAW support?
    Does the Pentax WG-2 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Pentax WG-2 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Pentax WG-2?
    What is the Sensor Size of Pentax WG-2?
    is the Pentax WG-2 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Pentax WG-2 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Pentax WG-2 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Pentax WG-2?
    What is the Weight of Pentax WG-2?
    What are the Dimensions of Pentax WG-2?
    Pentax Optio WG-2 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Pentax
    Model Pentax Optio WG-2
    Announced 2012-02-07
    Body Type Compact
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount fixed lens
    Number of Lenses
    Lens Focal Range 28-140 mm (5×)
    Max Aperture F3.5-5.5
    Macro Focus Range 1cm
    Screen
    Screen Type Fixed Type
    Screen Technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
    Screen Size 3"
    Screen Resolution 460k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder None
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 4s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation n/a
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 5.40 m
    Flash Modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score not tested
    DxO Color Depth not tested
    DxO Dynamic Range not tested
    DxO Low Light ISO not tested
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Size 1/2.3"
    Sensor Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 28.07mm2
    Sensor Resolution 16 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4288 x 3216
    Max Native ISO 6,400
    Min Native ISO 125
    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
    Number of Cross Focus Points Unknown
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
    Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080
    Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 192g
    Physical Dimensions 122 x 61 x 30mm
    Battery Life 260 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Battery Model D-LI92
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2 or 10 sec)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
    Storage Slots 1


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