Pentax WG-8 vs Sony WX800

The Pentax WG-8 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX800 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in June 2024 and October 2018. Both the WG-8 and the WX800 are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The Pentax has a resolution of 20.2 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 18 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Pentax WG-8		Sony WX800
Fixed lens compact camera		Fixed lens compact camera
28-140mm f/3.5-5.5		24-720mm f/3.5-6.4
20.2 MP – 1/2.3" sensor		18 MP – 1/2.3" sensor
4K/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 125-6,400		ISO 80-3,200 (80 - 6,400)
No viewfinder, LCD framing		No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots		3.0" LCD – 922k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Tilting touchscreen
8 shutter flaps per second		10 shutter flaps per second
Waterproof body (20m)		not weather sealed
340 shots per battery charge		370 shots per battery charge
118 x 66 x 33 mm, 242 g		102 x 58 x 36 mm, 233 g

Check WG-8 price at
amazon.com
Check WX800 offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Pentax WG-8 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX800? 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-8 and the Sony WX800 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The WG-8 can be obtained in two different colors (black, green), while the WX800 is also available in two color-versions, but different ones (black, white).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony WX800 is notably smaller (24 percent) than the Pentax WG-8. Moreover, the WX800 is slightly lighter (4 percent) than the WG-8. It is worth mentioning in this context that the WG-8 is splash and dust resistant, while the WX800 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing. More than that, the WG-8 is water-proof up to 20m and can, thus, be used for underwater photography.

Concerning battery life, the WG-8 gets 340 shots out of its Ricoh DB-110 battery, while the WX800 can take 370 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-BX1 power pack. The power pack in the WX800 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

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 WG-8	118 mm	66 mm	33 mm	242 g	340	Y	Jun 2024	US$ 399	amazon.com
2.		Sony WX800	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	233 g	370	n	Oct 2018	US$ 399	ebay.com
3.		Canon SX720	110 mm	64 mm	36 mm	270 g	250	n	Feb 2016	US$ 379	ebay.com
4.		Canon SX730	110 mm	64 mm	40 mm	300 g	250	n	Apr 2017	US$ 399	ebay.com
5.		Nikon W300	112 mm	66 mm	29 mm	231 g	280	Y	May 2017	US$ 389	ebay.com
6.		Panasonic TS7	117 mm	76 mm	37 mm	319 g	300	Y	May 2018	US$ 449	ebay.com
7.		Pentax WG-1000	116 mm	69 mm	51 mm	220 g	300	Y	Jun 2024	US$ 229	amazon.com
8.		Ricoh WG-6	118 mm	66 mm	33 mm	246 g	340	Y	Feb 2019	US$ 399	amazon.com
9.		Sony HX80	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	245 g	390	n	Mar 2016	US$ 349	ebay.com
10.		Sony HX90V	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	245 g	360	n	Apr 2015	US$ 429	ebay.com
11.		Sony HX95	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	242 g	370	n	Aug 2018	US$ 429	ebay.com
12.		Sony HX99	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	242 g	370	n	Aug 2018	US$ 449	ebay.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 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 two cameras under review were launched at the same price and fall into the same 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.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants 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. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies 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.

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the WG-8 offers a higher resolution of 20.2 megapixels, compared with 18 MP of the WX800. This megapixels advantage translates into a 6 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the WG-8 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.18μm versus 1.25μm for the WX800). In this context, it should be noted, however, that the WG-8 is much more recent (by 5 years and 7 months) than the WX800, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size. 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 WG-8 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the WG-8 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.9 x 19.4 inches or 65.8 x 49.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.7 x 15.6 inches or 52.7 x 39.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.3 x 13 inches or 43.9 x 32.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Sony WX800 are 24.5 x 18.4 inches or 62.2 x 46.6 cm for good quality, 19.6 x 14.7 inches or 49.7 x 37.3 cm for very good quality, and 16.3 x 12.2 inches or 41.5 x 31.1 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Pentax WG-8 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 125 to ISO 6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX800 are ISO 80 to ISO 3200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-6400.

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.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. 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 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 WG-8	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	20.9	12.8	1626	54
2.		Sony WX800	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	20.6	12.2	1070	51
3.		Canon SX720	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	20.3	11.8	817	48
4.		Canon SX730	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	20.5	11.9	924	50
5.		Nikon W300	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	20.5	12.0	938	50
6.		Panasonic TS7	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	20.6	12.1	1028	51
7.		Pentax WG-1000	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	20.9	12.8	1626	54
8.		Ricoh WG-6	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	20.7	12.2	1104	52
9.		Sony HX80	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	1080/60p	20.4	11.8	822	48
10.		Sony HX90V	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	1080/60p	20.2	11.6	738	47
11.		Sony HX95	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	20.6	12.1	1057	51
12.		Sony HX99	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	20.6	12.1	1058	51
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. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The WG-8 and the WX800 are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Pentax WG-8 and Sony WX800 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 WG-8	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
2.		Sony WX800	none	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
3.		Canon SX720	none	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/3200s	5.9/s	Y	Y
4.		Canon SX730	none	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	n	1/3200s	5.9/s	Y	Y
5.		Nikon W300	none	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
6.		Panasonic TS7	1170	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/1300s	10.0/s	Y	Y
7.		Pentax WG-1000	none	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/2000s	8.0/s	Y	n
8.		Ricoh WG-6	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	1.0/s	Y	n
9.		Sony HX80	638	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
10.		Sony HX90V	638	n	3.0 / 921	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
11.		Sony HX95	638	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
12.		Sony HX99	638	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 differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The WX800 has a touchscreen, while the WG-8 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

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 WG-8 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 Pentax WG-8 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.

Both the WG-8 and the WX800 have zoom lenses built in. The WG-8 has a 28-140mm f/3.5-5.5 optic and the WX800 offers a 24-720mm f/3.5-6.4 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Sony provides a wider angle of view at the short end, as well as more tele-photo reach at the long end than the Pentax. Both cameras offer the same maximum aperture.

The WG-8 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the WX800 uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo 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-8 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX800 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 WG-8	-	mono / mono	-	-	-	3.0	-	-	-
2.		Sony WX800	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
3.		Canon SX720	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
4.		Canon SX730	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
5.		Nikon W300	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
6.		Panasonic TS7	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
7.		Pentax WG-1000	-	mono / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Ricoh WG-6	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	3.0	-	-	-
9.		Sony HX80	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
10.		Sony HX90V	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
11.		Sony HX95	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
12.		Sony HX99	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y

It is notable that the WX800 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the WG-8 does not provide wifi capability.

The WG-8 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Pentax. In contrast, the WX800 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). There has not been a direct replacement model for the WX800 from Sony. 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 conclusions can be drawn? Is the Pentax WG-8 better than the Sony WX800 or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Reasons to prefer the Pentax WG-8:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (20.2 vs 18MP) with a 6% higher linear resolution.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 922k dots).
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Water-proof: Is rugged and sealed and can thus be used for underwater photography (up to 20m).
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
• More modern: Reflects 5 years and 7 months of technical progress since the WX800 launch.

Advantages of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX800:

• 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.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 8 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• 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.
• More compact: Is smaller (102x58mm vs 118x66mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• 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.
• 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.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in October 2018).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the WX800 emerges as the winner of the match-up (12 : 9 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 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-8 and the Sony WX800 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom Camera and Best Superzoom 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 says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the WG-8 and the WX800 in practical situations. 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 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.		Pentax WG-8	..	..	..	..	..	..	Jun 2024	US$ 399	amazon.com
2.		Sony WX800	..	..	..	..	..	..	Oct 2018	US$ 399	ebay.com
3.		Canon SX720	..	+	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	US$ 379	ebay.com
4.		Canon SX730	..	+	..	..	4/5	4/5	Apr 2017	US$ 399	ebay.com
5.		Nikon W300	..	+	..	..	4/5	4/5	May 2017	US$ 389	ebay.com
6.		Panasonic TS7	..	+	..	..	..	3.5/5	May 2018	US$ 449	ebay.com
7.		Pentax WG-1000	..	..	..	..	..	..	Jun 2024	US$ 229	amazon.com
8.		Ricoh WG-6	..	..	..	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Feb 2019	US$ 399	amazon.com
9.		Sony HX80	..	..	..	..	..	..	Mar 2016	US$ 349	ebay.com
10.		Sony HX90V	4/5	+ +	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Apr 2015	US$ 429	ebay.com
11.		Sony HX95	..	..	..	..	..	..	Aug 2018	US$ 429	ebay.com
12.		Sony HX99	..	..	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2018	US$ 449	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Check WG-8 price at
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Check WX800 offers at
ebay.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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