Pentax WG-2 GPS Review

Name: Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
Brand: Pentax

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Main Features

16MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 125 - 6400

28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 Zoom Lens

3.00" Fixed Type Screen

1.0fps continuous shooting

Built-in GPS

198g. 122 x 61 x 30 mm

Weather Sealed Body

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Pentax WG-2 GPS Overview

First introduced in February 2012 , Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS is a 16.0MP Waterproof camera with a 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor, weather sealed body and 5.0x zoom 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 lens.

Pentax WG-2 GPS Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Lens
Photography Type Scores
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Pentax WG-2 GPS is a member of Pentax's Waterproof class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

Pentax Waterproof Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Max FPS	Dimensions	Weight
Pentax WG-3 GPS Compare	2013	16.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	fps	125 x 64 x 33mm	238g
Pentax WG-3 Compare	2013	16.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	10.0 fps	124 x 64 x 33mm	230g
Pentax WG-10 Compare	2013	14.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	0.7 fps	116 x 59 x 29 mmmm	167g
Pentax WG-2 Compare	2012	16.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	1.0 fps	122 x 61 x 30mm	192g
Pentax WG-2 GPS	2012	16.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	1.0 fps	122 x 61 x 30mm	198g

Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side by side:
Pentax WG-3 GPS vs WG-3 vs WG-10 vs WG-2 vs WG-2 GPS

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Pentax WG-2 GPS PROs and CONs Review

Now let's get in to more details of our Pentax WG-2 GPS 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

Built-in GPS

Face Detection Focusing

1/4000s High Shutter Speed

198g Light Body

Manual Focusing

Environmental Sealing

88.2 MB Internal Storage

Timelapse Recording

Panorama Shooting

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Buy Pentax WG-2 GPS 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

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

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Pentax WG-2 GPS Physical Specs

Pentax WG-2 GPS weighs 198 g (0.44 lb / 6.98 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 GPS

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Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

Pentax WG-2 GPS

Min

Average

Max

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

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

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

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

Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Pentax WG-2 GPS with its main competitors:

Pentax WG-2 GPS Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs WG-2 GPS	Thickness	vs WG-2 GPS
Pentax WG-1 Compare	157g	41g lighter	28mm	2mm thinner
Pentax WG-10 Compare	167g	31g lighter	29mm	1mm thinner
Olympus TG-4 Compare	247g	49g heavier	31mm	1mm thicker
Ricoh WG-70 Compare	193g	5g lighter	30mm	equal thickness
Ricoh WG-5 GPS Compare	236g	38g heavier	32mm	2mm thicker
Nikon AW130 Compare	221g	23g heavier	27mm	3mm thinner
Panasonic ZS70 Compare	322g	124g heavier	41mm	11mm thicker
Nikon D200 Compare	920g	722g heavier	74mm	44mm thicker

Weather Sealing

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

Pentax WG-2 GPS Lens

Pentax WG-2 GPS 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 GPS

Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

WG-2 GPS

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 GPS

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

WG-2 GPS

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

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

Pentax WG-2 GPS Sensor and Photography Features

Pentax WG-2 GPS has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (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 GPS has a native ISO range of 125 - 6400 but unfortunately, Pentax WG-2 GPS doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX10 (Lumix DMC-LX15) or Fujifilm XF10 in the same price range.

Pentax WG-2 GPS is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. GoPro Hero11 Black with its 27.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Pentax WG-2 GPS vs GoPro Hero11 Black or take a look at Highest resolution Waterproof cameras list.

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

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

Pentax WG-2 GPS LCD

Pentax WG-2 GPS has a Fixed Type 3.00-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 460k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

Unfortunately Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS doesn't have a Selfie friendly screen. If this feature is important for your shooting style, check here the list of Best Waterproof Cameras with Selfie Friendly LCD screen.

WG-2 GPS doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder.

Pentax WG-2 GPS Connectivity, Storage and Battery

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

Pentax WG-2 GPS Battery

Pentax WG-2 GPS is powered by D-LI92 battery which provides a battery life of 260 shots according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Compact type cameras is 256 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 GPS

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 GPS vs Olympus TG-4 or take a look at Longest Battery Life Waterproof cameras list.

Pentax WG-2 GPS Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Pentax WG-1 Compare	1280 x 720	260shots	No	No	No
Pentax WG-10 Compare	1280 x 720	260shots	No	No	No
Olympus TG-4 Compare	1920 x 1080	380shots	Yes	No	No
Ricoh WG-70 Compare	1920 x 1080	300shots	No	No	No
Ricoh WG-5 GPS Compare	1920 x 1080	240shots	No	No	No
Nikon AW130 Compare	1920 x 1080	370shots	Yes	No	No
Panasonic ZS70 Compare	3840 x 2160	380shots	Yes	No	No
Nikon D200 Compare	None	shots	No	No	No

Pentax WG-2 GPS Video Features

With Pentax WG-2 GPS, 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 GPS 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.

Microphones, Speaker and Headphone Connections

Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS has a built-in Mono microphone and a Mono speaker. On the other hand, Pentax WG-2 GPS doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Fujifilm XF10 or Nikon Coolpix P7800 in a similar price range.

Pentax WG-2 GPS Other Features

Max Shutter speed

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

Flash

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

Focusing

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

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

What type of Photography is Pentax WG-2 GPS Good for?

In this section, we review and score Pentax WG-2 GPS in 5 different photography areas.

Pentax WG-2 GPS for Portrait Photography

Pentax WG-2 GPS 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 GPS.

Manual Focus Mode

Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP

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

Pentax WG-2 GPS for Street Photography

Pentax WG-2 GPS has a score of 43 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

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

Pentax WG-2 GPS for Sports Photography

Pentax WG-2 GPS 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 GPS.

Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s

Manual Focus Mode
140 mm Tele Lens

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

Pentax WG-2 GPS for Daily Photography

Pentax WG-2 GPS has a score of 54 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
198g

Environmental Sealings
5.0X Optical Zoom

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

Pentax WG-2 GPS for Landscape Photography

Pentax WG-2 GPS has a score of 25 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 GPS.

Manual Focus Mode
Built-in GPS
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage

Environmental Sealings
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP

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

Pentax WG-2 GPS Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Pentax WG-2 GPS compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.

Read a more detailed analysis of Pentax WG-2 GPS alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Pentax WG-2 GPS

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

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Pentax WG-2 GPS Alternatives in Cameras

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

Pentax WG-2 GPS Conclusion and Scores

Currently, Pentax WG-2 GPS has an Overall Score of 43/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS is ranked #115 out of 631 in Compact cameras (Top 20 Waterproof), and ranked #616 out of 1259 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

#616 out of 1259 in Top Ranking Cameras
#115 out of 631 in Top Ranking Waterproof Cameras
#35 out of 76 in Top Ranking Waterproof Cameras
#160 out of 740 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Sensor Cameras
#43 out of 76 in Lightest Waterproof Cameras with Small Sensor sensor(198g)
#320 out of 918 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fixed Type Screen
Geek Score: 0

Main Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Frequently Asked Questions about Pentax WG-2 GPS

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

Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Pentax
Model	Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
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	3.00"
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
Max 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-inch
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	198g
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	Built-in
Storage Type	SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage Slots	1