Nikon P950 vs Pentax WG-90

The Nikon Coolpix P950 and the Pentax WG-90 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in January 2020 and November 2023. Both the P950 and the WG-90 are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 15.9 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Nikon P950		Pentax WG-90
Fixed lens compact camera		Fixed lens compact camera
24-2000mm f/2.8-6.5		28-140mm f/3.5-5.5
15.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor		15.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor
4K/30p Video		1080/60p Video
ISO 100-6,400 (100 - 12,800)		ISO 125-6,400
Electronic viewfinder (2359k dots)		No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.2" LCD – 921k dots		2.7" LCD – 230k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
7 shutter flaps per second		8 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealed		Waterproof body (14m)
290 shots per battery charge		300 shots per battery charge
140 x 110 x 150 mm, 1005 g		123 x 62 x 30 mm, 194 g

Check P950 price at
amazon.com
Check WG-90 price at
amazon.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon Coolpix P950 and the Pentax WG-90? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Nikon P950 and the Pentax WG-90 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The WG-90 can be obtained in two different colors (black, blue), while the P950 is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Pentax WG-90 is considerably smaller (50 percent) than the Nikon P950. Moreover, the WG-90 is substantially lighter (81 percent) than the P950. It is noteworthy in this context that the WG-90 is splash and dust-proof, while the P950 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing. More than that, the WG-90 is water-proof up to 14m and can, thus, be used for underwater photography.

The power pack in the P950 can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Nikon P950	140 mm	110 mm	150 mm	1005 g	290	n	Jan 2020	EUR 899	amazon.com
2.		Pentax WG-90	123 mm	62 mm	30 mm	194 g	300	Y	Nov 2023	EUR 379	amazon.com
3.		Canon G5 X Mark II	111 mm	61 mm	46 mm	340 g	230	n	Jul 2019	EUR 929	ebay.com
4.		Canon G7 X Mark III	105 mm	61 mm	41 mm	304 g	235	n	Jul 2019	EUR 779	amazon.com
5.		Fujifilm X70	113 mm	64 mm	44 mm	340 g	330	n	Jan 2016	EUR 699	ebay.com
6.		Fujifilm XP130	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	207 g	240	Y	Jan 2018	EUR 219	ebay.com
7.		Fujifilm XP140	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	207 g	240	Y	Feb 2019	EUR 199	ebay.com
8.		Nikon A1000	114 mm	72 mm	41 mm	330 g	250	n	Jan 2019	EUR 449	ebay.com
9.		Nikon B500	114 mm	78 mm	95 mm	541 g	600	n	Jan 2016	EUR 309	ebay.com
10.		Nikon B600	122 mm	82 mm	99 mm	500 g	280	n	Jan 2019	EUR 359	ebay.com
11.		Nikon P900	140 mm	103 mm	137 mm	899 g	360	n	Mar 2015	EUR 619	ebay.com
12.		Nikon P1000	146 mm	119 mm	181 mm	1415 g	250	n	Jul 2018	EUR 1 099	amazon.com
13.		Nikon W300	112 mm	66 mm	29 mm	231 g	280	Y	May 2017	EUR 449	ebay.com
14.		Panasonic FZ1000 II	136 mm	97 mm	131 mm	810 g	350	n	Feb 2019	EUR 849	amazon.com
15.		Pentax WG-1000	116 mm	69 mm	51 mm	220 g	300	Y	Jun 2024	EUR 249	amazon.com
16.		Ricoh WG-60	123 mm	62 mm	30 mm	193 g	300	Y	Oct 2018	EUR 249	ebay.com
17.		Sony RX0 II	59 mm	41 mm	35 mm	132 g	240	Y	Mar 2019	EUR 799	amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The WG-90 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 65 percent) than the P950, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a 1/2.3-inch sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 5.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 15.9 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the P950 and the WG-90 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the WG-90 is much more recent (by 3 years and 10 months) than the P950, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The Nikon Coolpix P950 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 100-12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Pentax WG-90 are ISO 125 to ISO 6400 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the P950 is build around a CMOS sensor, while the WG-90 uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Nikon P950	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	20.7	12.3	1189	52
2.		Pentax WG-90	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.9	12.8	1570	54
3.		Canon G5 X Mark II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.2	12.4	583	65
4.		Canon G7 X Mark III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.2	12.4	583	65
5.		Fujifilm X70	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/60p	23.7	13.0	1608	80
6.		Fujifilm XP130	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.6	12.1	1000	51
7.		Fujifilm XP140	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/15p	20.7	12.2	1102	52
8.		Nikon A1000	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	20.7	12.2	1095	52
9.		Nikon B500	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60i	20.3	11.7	810	48
10.		Nikon B600	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	20.7	12.2	1095	52
11.		Nikon P900	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.2	11.6	727	47
12.		Nikon P1000	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	20.6	12.1	1044	51
13.		Nikon W300	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	20.5	12.0	938	50
14.		Panasonic FZ1000 II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.1	12.4	546	65
15.		Pentax WG-1000	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	20.9	12.8	1626	54
16.		Ricoh WG-60	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.6	12.2	1072	51
17.		Sony RX0 II	1-inch	15.4	4800	3200	4K/30p	22.1	12.4	555	65
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the P950 provides a higher video resolution than the WG-90. It can shoot video footage at 4K/30p, while the Pentax is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the P950 has an electronic viewfinder (2359k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the WG-90 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Nikon P950 and Pentax WG-90 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Nikon P950	2359	n	3.2 / 921	swivel	n	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
2.		Pentax WG-90	none	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
3.		Canon G5 X Mark II	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	30/s	Y	Y
4.		Canon G7 X Mark III	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	30/s	Y	Y
5.		Fujifilm X70	optional	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
6.		Fujifilm XP130	none	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
7.		Fujifilm XP140	none	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
8.		Nikon A1000	1166	n	3.0 / 1036	tilting	Y	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
9.		Nikon B500	none	n	3.0 / 921	tilting	n	1/4000s	7.4/s	Y	Y
10.		Nikon B600	none	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	7.4/s	Y	Y
11.		Nikon P900	921	n	3.0 / 921	swivel	n	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
12.		Nikon P1000	2359	n	3.2 / 921	swivel	n	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
13.		Nikon W300	none	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
14.		Panasonic FZ1000 II	2360	n	3.0 / 1240	swivel	Y	1/4000s	12.0/s	Y	Y
15.		Pentax WG-1000	none	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/2000s	8.0/s	Y	n
16.		Ricoh WG-60	none	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
17.		Sony RX0 II	none	n	1.5 / 230	tilting	n	..	5.5/s	n	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The Nikon P950 and the Pentax WG-90 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Both the P950 and the WG-90 have zoom lenses built in. The P950 has a 24-2000mm f/2.8-6.5 optic and the WG-90 offers a 28-140mm f/3.5-5.5 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Nikon provides a wider angle of view at the short end, as well as more tele-photo reach at the long end than the Pentax. The P950 offers the faster maximum aperture.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the P950 and the WG-90 write their files to SDXC cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon Coolpix P950 and Pentax WG-90 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Nikon P950	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
2.		Pentax WG-90	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Canon G5 X Mark II	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
4.		Canon G7 X Mark III	-	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
5.		Fujifilm X70	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
6.		Fujifilm XP130	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
7.		Fujifilm XP140	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
8.		Nikon A1000	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
9.		Nikon B500	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
10.		Nikon B600	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
11.		Nikon P900	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
12.		Nikon P1000	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
13.		Nikon W300	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
14.		Panasonic FZ1000 II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
15.		Pentax WG-1000	-	mono / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Ricoh WG-60	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Sony RX0 II	-	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y

It is notable that the P950 has a hotshoe, while the WG-90 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Both the P950 and the WG-90 are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The P950 replaced the earlier Nikon P900, while the WG-90 does not have a direct predecessor. Further information on the features and operation of the P950 and WG-90 can be found, respectively, in the Nikon P950 Manual (free pdf) or the online Pentax WG-90 Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Nikon P950 or the Pentax WG-90 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Nikon Coolpix P950:

• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60p).
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 2.7") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (921k vs 230k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/2.8 vs f/3.5).
• Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
• More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in January 2020).

Arguments in favor of the Pentax WG-90:

• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (8 vs 7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More compact: Is smaller (123x62mm vs 140x110mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 811g or 81 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Water-proof: Is rugged and sealed and can thus be used for underwater photography (up to 14m).
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (65 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 3 years and 10 months of technical progress since the P950 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the P950 is the clear winner of the match-up (16 : 7 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon P950 and the Pentax WG-90 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera and Best Travel-Zoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the P950 or the WG-90 perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Nikon P950	..	..	3/5	..	4/5	4/5	Jan 2020	EUR 899	amazon.com
2.		Pentax WG-90	..	..	..	..	..	..	Nov 2023	EUR 379	amazon.com
3.		Canon G5 X Mark II	4/5	+	4/5	82/100	..	4/5	Jul 2019	EUR 929	ebay.com
4.		Canon G7 X Mark III	..	+ +	4/5	81/100	4/5	..	Jul 2019	EUR 779	amazon.com
5.		Fujifilm X70	4.5/5	..	..	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2016	EUR 699	ebay.com
6.		Fujifilm XP130	..	o	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Jan 2018	EUR 219	ebay.com
7.		Fujifilm XP140	..	+	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Feb 2019	EUR 199	ebay.com
8.		Nikon A1000	..	+ +	3.5/5	..	3.5/5	3/5	Jan 2019	EUR 449	ebay.com
9.		Nikon B500	..	+	..	..	4/5	3.5/5	Jan 2016	EUR 309	ebay.com
10.		Nikon B600	..	+	..	..	3.5/5	3/5	Jan 2019	EUR 359	ebay.com
11.		Nikon P900	..	..	..	77/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2015	EUR 619	ebay.com
12.		Nikon P1000	..	+	3.5/5	73/100	3.5/5	3.5/5	Jul 2018	EUR 1 099	amazon.com
13.		Nikon W300	..	+	..	..	4/5	4/5	May 2017	EUR 449	ebay.com
14.		Panasonic FZ1000 II	..	..	..	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2019	EUR 849	amazon.com
15.		Pentax WG-1000	..	..	..	..	..	..	Jun 2024	EUR 249	amazon.com
16.		Ricoh WG-60	..	..	..	..	..	..	Oct 2018	EUR 249	ebay.com
17.		Sony RX0 II	..	..	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Mar 2019	EUR 799	amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Check P950 price at
amazon.com
Check WG-90 price at
amazon.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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