Pentax K-70 vs WG-1000

The Pentax K-70 and the Pentax WG-1000 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in June 2016 and June 2024. The K-70 is a DSLR, while the WG-1000 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on an APS-C (K-70) and a 1/2.3-inch (WG-1000) sensor. The K-70 has a resolution of 24 megapixels, whereas the WG-1000 provides 15.9 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Pentax K-70		Pentax WG-1000
Digital single lens reflex		Fixed lens compact camera
Pentax K mount lenses		27-108mm f/3.0-6.6
24 MP – APS-C sensor		15.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor
1080/60i Video		1080/30p Video
ISO 100-102,400		ISO 100-3,200
Optical viewfinder		No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0" LCD – 921k dots		2.7" LCD – 230k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
6 shutter flaps per second		8 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		no shake reduction
Weathersealed body		Waterproof body (15m)
410 shots per battery charge		300 shots per battery charge
126 x 93 x 74 mm, 688 g		116 x 69 x 51 mm, 220 g

Check K-70 offers at
ebay.com
Check WG-1000 price at
amazon.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Pentax K-70 and the Pentax WG-1000? 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

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Pentax K-70 and the Pentax WG-1000. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The K-70 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the WG-1000 is only available in grey.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Pentax WG-1000 is considerably smaller (32 percent) than the Pentax K-70. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments. More than that, the WG-1000 is water-proof up to 15m and can, thus, be used for underwater photography.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the WG-1000 has a lens built in, whereas the K-70 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Pentax K-70	126 mm	93 mm	74 mm	688 g	410	Y	Jun 2016	EUR 699	ebay.com
2.		Pentax WG-1000	116 mm	69 mm	51 mm	220 g	300	Y	Jun 2024	EUR 249	amazon.com
3.		Fujifilm XP130	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	207 g	240	Y	Jan 2018	EUR 219	ebay.com
4.		Nikon W300	112 mm	66 mm	29 mm	231 g	280	Y	May 2017	EUR 449	ebay.com
5.		Olympus E-M1 II	134 mm	91 mm	67 mm	574 g	440	Y	Sep 2016	EUR 1 999	ebay.com
6.		Panasonic G9	137 mm	97 mm	92 mm	658 g	400	Y	Nov 2017	EUR 1 699	ebay.com
7.		Panasonic GH5	139 mm	98 mm	87 mm	725 g	410	Y	Jan 2017	EUR 1 999	ebay.com
8.		Pentax K-3	131 mm	100 mm	77 mm	800 g	560	Y	Oct 2013	EUR 1 299	ebay.com
9.		Pentax K-3 II	131 mm	100 mm	77 mm	800 g	720	Y	Apr 2015	EUR 999	ebay.com
10.		Pentax K-3 III	135 mm	104 mm	74 mm	820 g	800	Y	Mar 2021	EUR 1 999	amazon.com
11.		Pentax K-50	130 mm	97 mm	71 mm	650 g	410	Y	Jun 2013	EUR 649	ebay.com
12.		Pentax KP	132 mm	101 mm	76 mm	703 g	390	Y	Jan 2017	EUR 1 299	ebay.com
13.		Pentax K-S2	123 mm	91 mm	73 mm	678 g	410	Y	Feb 2015	EUR 699	ebay.com
14.		Pentax WG-8	118 mm	66 mm	33 mm	242 g	340	Y	Jun 2024	EUR 479	amazon.com
15.		Pentax WG-90	123 mm	62 mm	30 mm	194 g	300	Y	Nov 2023	EUR 379	amazon.com
16.		Ricoh WG-60	123 mm	62 mm	30 mm	193 g	300	Y	Oct 2018	EUR 249	ebay.com
17.		Sony A9	127 mm	96 mm	63 mm	673 g	650	Y	Apr 2017	EUR 5 299	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The WG-1000 was launched at a lower price than the K-70, despite having a lens built in. 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.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Pentax K-70 features an APS-C sensor and the Pentax WG-1000 a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The sensor area in the WG-1000 is 92 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 5.6. The sensor in the K-70 has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the WG-1000 offers a 4:3 aspect.

With 24MP, the K-70 offers a higher resolution than the WG-1000 (15.9MP), but the K-70 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.91μm versus 1.33μm for the WG-1000) due to its larger sensor. However, the WG-1000 is a much more recent model (by 7 years and 11 months) than the K-70, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. 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 resolution advantage of the Pentax K-70 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the K-70 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Pentax WG-1000 are 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The K-70 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

Unlike the WG-1000, the K-70 has the capacity to capture high quality composite images by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Pentax K-70 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 102400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Pentax WG-1000 are ISO 100 to ISO 3200 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. 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 is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Pentax K-70	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60i	23.8	13.1	1639	80
2.		Pentax WG-1000	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	20.9	12.8	1626	54
3.		Fujifilm XP130	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.6	12.1	1000	51
4.		Nikon W300	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	20.5	12.0	938	50
5.		Olympus E-M1 II	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	23.7	12.8	1312	80
6.		Panasonic G9	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/60p	23.1	12.8	1138	74
7.		Panasonic GH5	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/60p	23.9	13.0	807	77
8.		Pentax K-3	APS-C	24.1	6016	4000	1080/60i	23.7	13.4	1216	80
9.		Pentax K-3 II	APS-C	24.1	6016	4000	1080/60i	23.6	13.6	1106	80
10.		Pentax K-3 III	APS-C	25.6	6192	4128	4K/30p	24.2	13.7	2083	85
11.		Pentax K-50	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.7	13.0	1120	79
12.		Pentax KP	APS-C	24.1	6016	4000	1080/60i	23.9	13.2	1699	81
13.		Pentax K-S2	APS-C	20.0	5472	3648	1080/30p	23.6	12.9	1514	79
14.		Pentax WG-8	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	20.9	12.8	1626	54
15.		Pentax WG-90	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.9	12.8	1570	54
16.		Ricoh WG-60	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.6	12.2	1072	51
17.		Sony A9	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	24.9	13.3	3517	92
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 can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the K-70 provides a higher frame rate than the WG-1000. It can shoot video footage at 1080/60i, while the WG-1000 is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the K-70 has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the WG-1000 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Pentax K-70 and Pentax WG-1000 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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.		Pentax K-70	optical	n	3.0 / 921	swivel	n	1/6000s	6.0/s	Y	Y
2.		Pentax WG-1000	none	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/2000s	8.0/s	Y	n
3.		Fujifilm XP130	none	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
4.		Nikon W300	none	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
5.		Olympus E-M1 II	2360	n	3.0 / 1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	18.0/s	n	Y
6.		Panasonic G9	3680	Y	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	20.0/s	n	Y
7.		Panasonic GH5	3680	n	3.2 / 1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	12.0/s	n	Y
8.		Pentax K-3	optical	Y	3.2 / 1037	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.3/s	Y	Y
9.		Pentax K-3 II	optical	Y	3.2 / 1037	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.3/s	n	Y
10.		Pentax K-3 III	optical	Y	3.2 / 1620	fixed	Y	1/8000s	12.0/s	n	Y
11.		Pentax K-50	optical	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/6000s	6.0/s	Y	Y
12.		Pentax KP	optical	n	3.0 / 921	tilting	n	1/6000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
13.		Pentax K-S2	optical	n	3.0 / 921	swivel	n	1/6000s	5.4/s	Y	Y
14.		Pentax WG-8	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
15.		Pentax WG-90	none	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	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 A9	3686	n	3.0 / 1440	tilting	Y	1/8000s	20.0/s	n	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The Pentax K-70 has 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.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the K-70 and the WG-1000 write their files to SDXC cards. The K-70 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the WG-1000 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD 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 Pentax K-70 and Pentax WG-1000 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.		Pentax K-70	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
2.		Pentax WG-1000	-	mono / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Fujifilm XP130	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
4.		Nikon W300	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
5.		Olympus E-M1 II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.0	Y	-	-
6.		Panasonic G9	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.0	Y	-	Y
7.		Panasonic GH5	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.1	Y	-	Y
8.		Pentax K-3	Y	mono / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
9.		Pentax K-3 II	Y	mono / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
10.		Pentax K-3 III	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
11.		Pentax K-50	Y	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Pentax KP	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	-	2.0	Y	-	-
13.		Pentax K-S2	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
14.		Pentax WG-8	-	mono / mono	-	-	-	3.0	-	-	-
15.		Pentax WG-90	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Ricoh WG-60	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Sony A9	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y

It is notable that the K-70 has a hotshoe, while the WG-1000 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

The WG-1000 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Pentax. In contrast, the K-70 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). There has not been a direct replacement model for the K-70 from Pentax. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Pentax website.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Pentax K-70 and the Pentax WG-1000? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Pentax K-70:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (24 vs 15.9MP) with a 25% higher linear resolution.
• High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60i versus 1080/30p).
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" 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.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/6000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (410 versus 300) on a single battery charge.
• 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.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in June 2016).

Reasons to prefer the Pentax WG-1000:

• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (8 vs 6 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the K-70 requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (116x69mm vs 126x93mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the K-70).
• Water-proof: Is rugged and sealed and can thus be used for underwater photography (up to 15m).
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 7 years and 11 months of technical progress since the K-70 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the K-70 is the clear winner of the match-up (23 : 7 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape 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 Pentax K-70 and the Pentax WG-1000 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR 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 K-70 or the WG-1000 perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear 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.		Pentax K-70	4.5/5	..	4/5	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2016	EUR 699	ebay.com
2.		Pentax WG-1000	..	..	..	..	..	..	Jun 2024	EUR 249	amazon.com
3.		Fujifilm XP130	..	o	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Jan 2018	EUR 219	ebay.com
4.		Nikon W300	..	+	..	..	4/5	4/5	May 2017	EUR 449	ebay.com
5.		Olympus E-M1 II	5/5	+ +	5/5	85/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	EUR 1 999	ebay.com
6.		Panasonic G9	..	+ +	5/5	85/100	5/5	5/5	Nov 2017	EUR 1 699	ebay.com
7.		Panasonic GH5	4.5/5	+ +	..	85/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2017	EUR 1 999	ebay.com
8.		Pentax K-3	4/5	..	..	83/100	5/5	5/5	Oct 2013	EUR 1 299	ebay.com
9.		Pentax K-3 II	4.5/5	..	..	..	5/5	5/5	Apr 2015	EUR 999	ebay.com
10.		Pentax K-3 III	4/5	..	3/5	..	4.5/5	..	Mar 2021	EUR 1 999	amazon.com
11.		Pentax K-50	5/5	..	..	..	5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2013	EUR 649	ebay.com
12.		Pentax KP	4/5	..	3/5	82/100	5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	EUR 1 299	ebay.com
13.		Pentax K-S2	4.5/5	..	..	..	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	EUR 699	ebay.com
14.		Pentax WG-8	..	..	..	..	..	..	Jun 2024	EUR 479	amazon.com
15.		Pentax WG-90	..	..	..	..	..	..	Nov 2023	EUR 379	amazon.com
16.		Ricoh WG-60	..	..	..	..	..	..	Oct 2018	EUR 249	ebay.com
17.		Sony A9	5/5	+ +	4.8/5	89/100	5/5	5/5	Apr 2017	EUR 5 299	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

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