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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS

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

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Push to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Launched April 2009
Pentax WG-2 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 198g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Released February 2012
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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Panasonic FS42 versus Pentax WG-2 GPS, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and WG-2 GPS (16MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and WG-2 GPS (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The FS42 was announced 3 years before the WG-2 GPS which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax WG-2 GPS being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the FS42 matches up vs the WG-2 GPS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Pentax WG-2 GPS

 FS42 WG-2 GPS 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 GPS over the Panasonic FS42

 WG-2 GPS FS42 
ReleasedFebruary 2012April 2009More modern by 34 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Pentax WG-2 GPS

 FS42 WG-2 GPS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS42 has got external measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Pentax WG-2 GPS has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FS42 versus Pentax WG-2 GPS in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the FS42 versus the WG-2 GPS.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS size comparison

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

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes just by looking through technical specs. The pic below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the FS42 and WG-2 GPS.

As you can tell, both of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FS42 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh tougher and the Pentax WG-2 GPS will render greater detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged FS42 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Portrait photography camera
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
no external flash support
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
40
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports face detection focusing
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography info
Pentax WG-2 GPS Street photography info
47
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
max ISO too low (1,000)
54
environment sealing
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography highlights
Pentax WG-2 GPS Sports photography highlights
16
max fps very slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect auto focus
38
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Travel photography camera
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
MP count low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
70
environment sealing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax WG-2 GPS Landscape photography highlights
22
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
max ISO too low (1,000)
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
47
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3")
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging information
Pentax WG-2 GPS Vlogging information
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
missing microphone support
30
rather wide (28mm)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing external microphone support
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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Pentax WG-2 GPS
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
Category Ultracompact Waterproof
Launched 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 measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 1000 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 6.3 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m 5.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 132 gr (0.29 pounds) 198 gr (0.44 pounds)
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 score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $580 $300