Pentax WG-1000 vs Sony A7R IIIA
The Pentax WG-1000 and the Sony Alpha A7R IIIA are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in June 2024 and April 2021. The WG-1000 is a fixed lens compact, while the A7R IIIA is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a 1/2.3-inch (WG-1000) and a full frame (A7R IIIA) sensor. The Pentax has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 42.2 MP.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.
![logo](/abc-i0/logo-pentax-120x40.webp)
Check WG-1000 price at
amazon.com
![logo](/abc-i0/logo-sony-120x40.webp)
Check A7R IIIA price at
amazon.com
Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Pentax WG-1000 and the Sony Alpha A7R IIIA? 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 physical size and weight of the Pentax WG-1000 and the Sony A7R IIIA are illustrated 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 size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
![Size Pentax WG-1000 vs Sony A7R IIIA](/abc-i3a/pentax-wg-1000-vs-sony-a7r-iiia-front-a.webp)
![Compare WG-1000 versus A7R IIIA top](/abc-i3a/pentax-wg-1000-vs-sony-a7r-iiia-top-a.webp)
![Comparison WG-1000 or A7R IIIA rear](/abc-i3a/pentax-wg-1000-vs-sony-a7r-iiia-rear-a.webp)
If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A7R IIIA is considerably larger (52 percent) than the Pentax WG-1000. 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 A7R IIIA is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the A7R IIIA and their specifications in the Sony FE Lens Catalog.
The power pack in the A7R IIIA can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.
![scroll hint](/abc-i0/scroll-hint-104x104.webp)
Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Pentax WG-1000 | 116 mm | 69 mm | 51 mm | 220 g | 300 | Y | Jun 2024 | EUR 249 | amazon.com | |
2. | Sony A7R IIIA | 127 mm | 96 mm | 74 mm | 650 g | 650 | Y | Apr 2021 | EUR 3 499 | amazon.com | |
3. | Canon SX600 | 104 mm | 61 mm | 26 mm | 188 g | 290 | n | Jan 2014 | EUR 249 | ebay.com | |
4. | Fujifilm XP120 | 110 mm | 71 mm | 28 mm | 203 g | 210 | Y | Jan 2017 | EUR 219 | ebay.com | |
5. | Fujifilm XP130 | 110 mm | 71 mm | 28 mm | 207 g | 240 | Y | Jan 2018 | EUR 219 | ebay.com | |
6. | Fujifilm XP140 | 110 mm | 71 mm | 28 mm | 207 g | 240 | Y | Feb 2019 | EUR 199 | ebay.com | |
7. | Nikon W300 | 112 mm | 66 mm | 29 mm | 231 g | 280 | Y | May 2017 | EUR 449 | ebay.com | |
8. | Pentax WG-8 | 118 mm | 66 mm | 33 mm | 242 g | 340 | Y | Jun 2024 | EUR 479 | amazon.com | |
9. | Pentax WG-90 | 123 mm | 62 mm | 30 mm | 194 g | 300 | Y | Nov 2023 | EUR 379 | amazon.com | |
10. | Ricoh WG-60 | 123 mm | 62 mm | 30 mm | 193 g | 300 | Y | Oct 2018 | EUR 249 | ebay.com | |
11. | Sony A1 | 129 mm | 97 mm | 81 mm | 737 g | 530 | Y | Jan 2021 | EUR 7 299 | amazon.com | |
12. | Sony A7R II | 127 mm | 96 mm | 60 mm | 625 g | 290 | Y | Jun 2015 | EUR 3 499 | ebay.com | |
13. | Sony A7R III | 127 mm | 96 mm | 74 mm | 650 g | 650 | Y | Oct 2017 | EUR 3 499 | ebay.com | |
14. | Sony A7R IV | 129 mm | 96 mm | 78 mm | 665 g | 670 | Y | Jul 2019 | EUR 3 999 | ebay.com | |
15. | Sony A7S III | 127 mm | 97 mm | 81 mm | 699 g | 600 | Y | Jul 2020 | EUR 4 199 | amazon.com | |
16. | Sony HX99 | 102 mm | 58 mm | 36 mm | 242 g | 370 | n | Aug 2018 | EUR 519 | ebay.com | |
17. | Sony WX800 | 102 mm | 58 mm | 36 mm | 233 g | 370 | n | Oct 2018 | EUR 399 | ebay.com | |
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The WG-1000 was launched at a lower price than the A7R IIIA, 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. 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 generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels 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.
Of the two cameras under consideration, the Pentax WG-1000 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Sony A7R IIIA a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the A7R IIIA is 2979 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 1.0. The sensor in the WG-1000 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the A7R IIIA offers a 3:2 aspect.
![Pentax WG-1000 and Sony A7R IIIA sensor measures](/abc-i3a/pentax-wg-1000-vs-sony-a7r-iiia-sensor-a.webp)
With 42.2MP, the A7R IIIA offers a higher resolution than the WG-1000 (15.9MP), but the A7R IIIA nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.52μm versus 1.33μm for the WG-1000) due to its larger sensor. However, the WG-1000 is a much more recent model (by 3 years and 1 month) than the A7R IIIA, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. 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 Sony A7R IIIA implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A7R IIIA for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 39.8 x 26.5 inches or 101 x 67.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 31.8 x 21.2 inches or 80.8 x 53.9 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 26.5 x 17.7 inches or 67.3 x 44.9 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 A7R IIIA has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.
Unlike the WG-1000, the A7R IIIA 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 WG-1000 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A7R IIIA are ISO 100 to ISO 32000, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-102400.
In terms of underlying technology, the WG-1000 is build around a CMOS sensor, while the A7R IIIA 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.
![WG-1000 versus A7R IIIA MP](/abc-i3a/pentax-wg-1000-vs-sony-a7r-iiia-resolution-a.webp)
Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. 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.
![scroll hint](/abc-i0/scroll-hint-104x104.webp)
Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Pentax WG-1000 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 20.9 | 12.8 | 1626 | 54 | |
2. | Sony A7R IIIA | Full Frame | 42.2 | 7952 | 5304 | 4K/30p | 26.0 | 14.7 | 3523 | 100 | |
3. | Canon SX600 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 20.0 | 11.4 | 620 | 45 | |
4. | Fujifilm XP120 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/60p | 20.5 | 11.9 | 900 | 49 | |
5. | Fujifilm XP130 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/60p | 20.6 | 12.1 | 1000 | 51 | |
6. | Fujifilm XP140 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 4K/15p | 20.7 | 12.2 | 1102 | 52 | |
7. | Nikon W300 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 4K/30p | 20.5 | 12.0 | 938 | 50 | |
8. | Pentax WG-8 | 1/2.3 | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | 20.9 | 12.8 | 1626 | 54 | |
9. | Pentax WG-90 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/60p | 20.9 | 12.8 | 1570 | 54 | |
10. | Ricoh WG-60 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/60p | 20.6 | 12.2 | 1072 | 51 | |
11. | Sony A1 | Full Frame | 49.8 | 8640 | 5760 | 8k/30p | 25.9 | 14.5 | 3163 | 98 | |
12. | Sony A7R II | Full Frame | 42.2 | 7952 | 5304 | 4K/30p | 26.0 | 13.9 | 3434 | 98 | |
13. | Sony A7R III | Full Frame | 42.2 | 7952 | 5304 | 4K/30p | 26.0 | 14.7 | 3523 | 100 | |
14. | Sony A7R IV | Full Frame | 60.2 | 9504 | 6336 | 4K/30p | 26.0 | 14.8 | 3344 | 99 | |
15. | Sony A7S III | Full Frame | 12.0 | 4240 | 2832 | 4K/120p | 23.7 | 13.9 | 2520 | 86 | |
16. | Sony HX99 | 1/2.3 | 18.0 | 4896 | 3672 | 4K/30p | 20.6 | 12.1 | 1058 | 51 | |
17. | Sony WX800 | 1/2.3 | 18.0 | 4896 | 3672 | 4K/30p | 20.6 | 12.2 | 1070 | 51 | |
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. |
Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the A7R IIIA provides a better video resolution than the WG-1000. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Pentax is limited to 1080/30p.
Feature comparison
Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A7R IIIA has an electronic viewfinder (3686k dots), which can be very helpful 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 WG-1000 and Sony A7R IIIA in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.
![scroll hint](/abc-i0/scroll-hint-104x104.webp)
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 WG-1000 | none | n | 2.7 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 8.0/s | Y | n | |
2. | Sony A7R IIIA | 3686 | n | 3.0 / 2340 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0/s | n | Y | |
3. | Canon SX600 | none | n | 3.0 / 461 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 3.9/s | Y | Y | |
4. | Fujifilm XP120 | none | n | 3.0 / 920 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
5. | Fujifilm XP130 | none | n | 3.0 / 920 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
6. | Fujifilm XP140 | none | n | 3.0 / 920 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
7. | Nikon W300 | none | n | 3.0 / 921 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 7.0/s | Y | Y | |
8. | Pentax WG-8 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | Y | n | |
9. | Pentax WG-90 | none | n | 2.7 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | Y | n | |
10. | Ricoh WG-60 | none | n | 2.7 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | Y | n | |
11. | Sony A1 | 9437 | n | 3.0 / 1440 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0/s | n | Y | |
12. | Sony A7R II | 2400 | n | 3.0 / 1229 | tilting | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | n | Y | |
13. | Sony A7R III | 3686 | n | 3.0 / 1440 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0/s | n | Y | |
14. | Sony A7R IV | 5760 | n | 3.0 / 1440 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0/s | n | Y | |
15. | Sony A7S III | 9440 | n | 3.0 / 1440 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0/s | n | Y | |
16. | Sony HX99 | 638 | n | 3.0 / 922 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
17. | Sony WX800 | none | n | 3.0 / 922 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. |
One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The WG-1000 has one, while the A7R IIIA does not. While the built-in flash of the WG-1000 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.
The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the A7R IIIA is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).
The Sony A7R IIIA 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.
The WG-1000 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the A7R IIIA uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The A7R IIIA features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the WG-1000 only has one slot. The A7R IIIA supports UHS-II cards on its first slot and UHS-I on its second one, 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 WG-1000 and Sony Alpha A7R IIIA and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
![scroll hint](/abc-i0/scroll-hint-104x104.webp)
Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Pentax WG-1000 | - | mono / mono | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
2. | Sony A7R IIIA | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.2 | Y | Y | Y | |
3. | Canon SX600 | - | mono / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
4. | Fujifilm XP120 | - | mono / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
5. | Fujifilm XP130 | - | mono / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
6. | Fujifilm XP140 | - | mono / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
7. | Nikon W300 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
8. | Pentax WG-8 | - | mono / mono | - | - | - | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
9. | Pentax WG-90 | - | mono / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
10. | Ricoh WG-60 | - | mono / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
11. | Sony A1 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
12. | Sony A7R II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
13. | Sony A7R III | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.1 | Y | Y | Y | |
14. | Sony A7R IV | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.1 | Y | Y | Y | |
15. | Sony A7S III | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
16. | Sony HX99 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
17. | Sony WX800 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - |
It is notable that the A7R IIIA offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the WG-1000 does not provide wifi capability.
Studio photographers will appreciate that the Sony A7R IIIA (unlike the WG-1000) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.
Both the WG-1000 and the A7R IIIA are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The A7R IIIA replaced the earlier Sony A7R II, while the WG-1000 does not have a direct predecessor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Pentax and Sony websites.
Review summary
So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Pentax WG-1000 and the Sony A7R IIIA? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.
![logo](/abc-i0/logo-pentax-120x40.webp)
Advantages of the Pentax WG-1000:
- Ready to shoot: Has a lens built-in, whereas the A7R IIIA requires a separate lens.
- More compact: Is smaller (116x69mm vs 127x96mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
- Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the A7R IIIA).
- Water-proof: Is rugged and sealed and can thus be used for underwater photography (up to 15m).
- Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
- More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
- More modern: Reflects 3 years and 1 month of technical progress since the A7R IIIA launch.
![logo](/abc-i0/logo-sony-120x40.webp)
Reasons to prefer the Sony Alpha A7R IIIA:
- More detail: Has more megapixels (42.2 vs 15.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 66%.
- 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 definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 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.
- Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
- Easier framing: Has an electronic 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 (2340k vs 230k dots).
- More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
- Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
- Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
- Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 8 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
- Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
- Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
- More flexible: Takes interchangeable lenses and can thus be used with specialty optics.
- Longer lasting: Gets more shots (650 versus 300) out of a single battery charge.
- Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
- Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
- Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
- Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.2 vs 2.0).
- Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
- Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
- Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
- Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
- Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
- Faster buffer clearing: Supports Ultra High Speed (UHS-II and UHS-I) SDXC cards.
- More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in April 2021).
If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A7R IIIA is the clear winner of the contest (32 : 7 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. 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 WG-1000 and the Sony A7R IIIA place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens 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 partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the WG-1000 or the A7R IIIA. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.
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.
![scroll hint](/abc-i0/scroll-hint-104x104.webp)
Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Pentax WG-1000 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Jun 2024 | EUR 249 | amazon.com | |
2. | Sony A7R IIIA | .. | + + | 4/5 | 90/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Apr 2021 | EUR 3 499 | amazon.com | |
3. | Canon SX600 | .. | + | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | Jan 2014 | EUR 249 | ebay.com | |
4. | Fujifilm XP120 | .. | o | .. | .. | 3.5/5 | 4/5 | Jan 2017 | EUR 219 | ebay.com | |
5. | Fujifilm XP130 | .. | o | .. | .. | 3.5/5 | 4/5 | Jan 2018 | EUR 219 | ebay.com | |
6. | Fujifilm XP140 | .. | + | .. | .. | 3.5/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2019 | EUR 199 | ebay.com | |
7. | Nikon W300 | .. | + | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | May 2017 | EUR 449 | ebay.com | |
8. | Pentax WG-8 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Jun 2024 | EUR 479 | amazon.com | |
9. | Pentax WG-90 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Nov 2023 | EUR 379 | amazon.com | |
10. | Ricoh WG-60 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Oct 2018 | EUR 249 | ebay.com | |
11. | Sony A1 | 5/5 | o | 4.5/5 | 93/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Jan 2021 | EUR 7 299 | amazon.com | |
12. | Sony A7R II | 5/5 | + + | 5/5 | 90/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Jun 2015 | EUR 3 499 | ebay.com | |
13. | Sony A7R III | .. | + + | 4/5 | 90/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Oct 2017 | EUR 3 499 | ebay.com | |
14. | Sony A7R IV | 5/5 | + | 4.5/5 | 91/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Jul 2019 | EUR 3 999 | ebay.com | |
15. | Sony A7S III | 4.5/5 | + + | 5/5 | 91/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Jul 2020 | EUR 4 199 | amazon.com | |
16. | Sony HX99 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2018 | EUR 519 | ebay.com | |
17. | Sony WX800 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Oct 2018 | EUR 399 | ebay.com | |
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. |
The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.
![logo](/abc-i0/logo-pentax-120x40.webp)
Check WG-1000 price at
amazon.com
![logo](/abc-i0/logo-sony-120x40.webp)
Check A7R IIIA 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.
- Canon R50 vs Sony A7R IIIA
- Canon R6 Mark II vs Sony A7R IIIA
- Fujifilm X-H2S vs Pentax WG-1000
- Fujifilm XP140 vs Pentax WG-1000
- Nikon D6 vs Sony A7R IIIA
- Nikon W300 vs Pentax WG-1000
- Nikon Z7 II vs Pentax WG-1000
- Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A7R IIIA
- Olympus TG-5 vs Pentax WG-1000
- Panasonic S5 vs Pentax WG-1000
- Pentax K-3 III vs Sony A7R IIIA
- Ricoh GR IIIx vs Sony A7R IIIA
Specifications: Pentax WG-1000 vs Sony A7R IIIA
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.
Camera Model | Pentax WG-1000 | Sony A7R IIIA |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Fixed lens compact camera | Mirrorless system camera |
Camera Lens | 27-108mm f/3.0-6.6 | Sony E mount lenses |
Launch Date | June 2024 | April 2021 |
Launch Price | USD 229 | USD 3,199 |
Sensor Specs | Pentax WG-1000 | Sony A7R IIIA |
Sensor Technology | CMOS | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor Format | 1/2.3" Sensor | Full Frame Sensor |
Sensor Size | 6.17 x 4.55 mm | 35.9 x 24.0 mm |
Sensor Area | 28.0735 mm2 | 861.6 mm2 |
Sensor Diagonal | 7.7 mm | 43.2 mm |
Crop Factor | 5.6x | 1.0x |
Sensor Resolution | 15.9 Megapixels | 42.2 Megapixels |
Image Resolution | 4608 x 3456 pixels | 7952 x 5304 pixels |
Pixel Pitch | 1.33 μm | 4.52 μm |
Pixel Density | 56.73 MP/cm2 | 4.90 MP/cm2 |
Moiré control | no AA filter | no AA filter |
Movie Capability | 1080/30p Video | 4K/30p Video |
ISO Setting | 100 - 3,200 ISO | 100 - 32,000 ISO |
ISO Boost | no Enhancement | 50 - 102,400 ISO |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | .. | 100 |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | .. | 26.0 |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | .. | 14.7 |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | .. | 3523 |
Screen Specs | Pentax WG-1000 | Sony A7R IIIA |
Viewfinder Type | no viewfinder | Electronic viewfinder |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.78x | |
Viewfinder Resolution | 3686k dots | |
LCD Framing | Live View | Live View |
Rear LCD Size | 2.7inch | 3.0inch |
LCD Resolution | 230k dots | 2340k dots |
LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | Tilting screen |
Touch Input | no Touchscreen | Touchscreen |
Shooting Specs | Pentax WG-1000 | Sony A7R IIIA |
Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | On-Sensor Phase-detect |
Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | Focus Peaking |
Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) | 1/2000s | 1/8000s |
Continuous Shooting | 8 shutter flaps/s | 10 shutter flaps/s |
Electronic Shutter | no E-Shutter | YES |
Time-Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | Intervalometer built-in |
Image Stabilization | no shake reduction | In-body stabilization |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | no On-Board Flash |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | MS or SDXC cards |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | Dual card slots |
UHS card support | no | Single UHS-II |
Connectivity Specs | Pentax WG-1000 | Sony A7R IIIA |
External Flash | no Hotshoe | Hotshoe |
Studio Flash | no PC Sync | PC Sync socket |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | USB 3.2 |
HDMI Port | no HDMI | micro HDMI |
Microphone Port | no MIC socket | External MIC port |
Headphone Socket | no Headphone port | Headphone port |
Wifi Support | no Wifi | Wifi built-in |
Near-Field Communication | no NFC | NFC built-in |
Bluetooth Support | no Bluetooth | Bluetooth built-in |
Body Specs | Pentax WG-1000 | Sony A7R IIIA |
Environmental Sealing | Waterproof body (15m) | Weathersealed body |
Battery Type | Pentax D-LI96 | Sony NP-FZ100 |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 300 shots per charge | 650 shots per charge |
In-Camera Charging | no USB charging | USB charging |
Body Dimensions |
116 x 69 x 51 mm (4.6 x 2.7 x 2.0 in) |
127 x 96 x 74 mm (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.9 in) |
Camera Weight | 220 g (7.8 oz) | 650 g (22.9 oz) |
![logo](/abc-i0/logo-pentax-120x40.webp)
Check WG-1000 price at
amazon.com
![logo](/abc-i0/logo-sony-120x40.webp)
Check A7R IIIA price at
amazon.com
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