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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Expand to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Revealed April 2009
Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Introduced February 2012
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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Panasonic FS42 versus Pentax WG-2, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Waterproof by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and WG-2 (16MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and WG-2 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor size.

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The FS42 was unveiled 3 years prior to the WG-2 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax WG-2 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summation of how the FS42 grades against the WG-2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Pentax WG-2

 FS42 WG-2 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Panasonic FS42

 WG-2 FS42 
IntroducedFebruary 2012April 2009More modern by 34 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Pentax WG-2

 FS42 WG-2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic FS42 offers physical dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Pentax WG-2 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FS42 versus Pentax WG-2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the FS42 compared to the WG-2.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS42 and WG-2 is 95 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizes just by reviewing technical specs. The image underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS42 and WG-2.

As you have seen, both of those cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FS42 having a tinier sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Pentax WG-2 will offer you more detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The more aged FS42 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Portrait photography camera
19
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
lacks RAW support
40
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FS42
Street photography with Pentax WG-2
47
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
lacks RAW support
low max ISO (1,000)
54
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FS42
Sports photography with Pentax WG-2
16
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect AF
38
MP count good (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FS42
Travel photography with Pentax WG-2
51
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
70
environment proofing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Landscape photography camera
22
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
low max ISO (1,000)
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse recording
47
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
MP count good (16MP)
environment proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Vlogging camera
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
no external microphone socket
30
fairly wide (28mm)
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have external mic socket
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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Pentax WG-2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Pentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Pentax Optio WG-2
Category Ultracompact Waterproof
Revealed 2009-04-17 2012-02-07
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 1000 6400
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 6.3 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 5.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 132 grams (0.29 pounds) 192 grams (0.42 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $580 $350