Canon 520 HS vs Pentax WG-3 GPS

Cameras
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Canon 520 HS vs Pentax WG-3 GPS

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1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
10.1 megapixels
28.00mm - 336.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon 520 HS Review.
See real-world photos taken with the 520 HS.

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
16.0 megapixels
25.00mm - 100.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Pentax WG-3 GPS Review.
See real-world photos taken with the WG-3 GPS.

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Differences

Canon 520 HS advantages over Pentax WG-3 GPS

Less expensive
$300 vs $350 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Bigger pixels
~ 1.69 vs 1.34 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
More telephoto lens reach
336 mm vs 100 mm
Capture objects farther away
Thinner
19 mm vs 33 mm
Thinner
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Lighter weight
155g vs 239g
Lighter weight
Longer exposure
15 vs 4 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
2.8 fps vs 1.5 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 60 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

Pentax WG-3 GPS advantages over Canon 520 HS

Waterproof
Yes vs No
Take photos underwater without destroying your camera!
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Larger lens aperture
f/2.0 vs f/3.4
Take photos in low-light or isolate your subject
Fast startup
~2.00 vs 2.8 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

240 vs 190 shots
Capture more photos
Manual focus
Yes vs No
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
Less shutter lag
0.21 vs 0.34 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More pixels
16.0 vs 10.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Wider angle lens
25 mm vs 28 mm
Capture more of the scene
Higher extended ISO
6400 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Eye-level viewfinder
Neither provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
RAW file ability
Neither provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Hot shoe
Neither provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Neither provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

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Canon ELPH 520 HS

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Buy the Pentax WG-3 GPS

Pentax WG-3 GPS

Review Excerpt

Compact 12x zoom; Optical image stabilization; Full HD movies; Handheld Night Scene mode; Good shutter lag time.
Uses microSD media; Short battery life; Flash is weak; Soft at telephoto; Tiny buttons.
Read our Canon 520 HS Express Review

Eye-catching, aggressive styling; Digital Microscope mode with 6 LED ring light; Improved ruggedness; Front-panel monochrome LCD readout; Can power up via inductive charging.
Struggles in low-light situations despite bright f/2 max lens aperture; So-so image and video quality; User interface has steep learning curve; Poor battery life.
Read our Pentax WG-3 GPS Express Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 510 HS

Canon 520 HS

Canon 510 HS

$372
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Lighter weight

$318
1/2.3 inch

Touchscreen
More pixels

Compare Canon 520 HS vs Canon 510 HS

Pentax WG-3 GPS

Canon 510 HS

$229
1/2.3 inch

Waterproof
In-camera panoramas

$318
1/2.3 inch

Bigger pixels
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Canon 510 HS

Compared to Canon 530 HS

Canon 520 HS

Canon 530 HS

$372
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive

$300
1/2.3 inch

Touchscreen
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Canon 520 HS vs Canon 530 HS

Pentax WG-3 GPS

Canon 530 HS

$229
1/2.3 inch

Waterproof
In-camera panoramas

$300
1/2.3 inch

Bigger pixels
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Canon 530 HS

Compared to Sony W690

Canon 520 HS

Sony W690

$372
1/2.3 inch

Bigger pixels
More telephoto lens reach

$257
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
More pixels

Compare Canon 520 HS vs Sony W690

Pentax WG-3 GPS

Sony W690

$229
1/2.3 inch

Waterproof
In-camera panoramas

$257
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sony W690

Compared to Ricoh WG-4 GPS

Canon 520 HS

Ricoh WG-4 GPS

$372
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Slower slow-motion

$380
1/2.3 inch

Waterproof
In-camera panoramas

Compare Canon 520 HS vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS

Pentax WG-3 GPS

Ricoh WG-4 GPS

$229
1/2.3 inch

$380
1/2.3 inch

Bigger JPEG buffer
Slow-motion videos

Compare Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh WG-4 GPS

Compared to Ricoh WG-4

Canon 520 HS

Ricoh WG-4

$372
1/2.3 inch

Slower slow-motion
Bigger pixels

$330
1/2.3 inch

Waterproof
In-camera panoramas

Compare Canon 520 HS vs Ricoh WG-4

Pentax WG-3 GPS

Ricoh WG-4

$229
1/2.3 inch

Built-in GPS

$330
1/2.3 inch

Bigger JPEG buffer
Slow-motion videos

Compare Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Ricoh WG-4

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