Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS

Its time to take a deeper look at the Panasonic FX580 and Pentax WG-1 GPS, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Waterproof by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the FX580 (12MP) and the WG-1 GPS (14MP) is very comparable and they possess the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The FX580 was announced 3 years earlier than the WG-1 GPS and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the FX580 grades versus the WG-1 GPS with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 & Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic FX580 Gallery & Pentax WG-1 GPS Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FX580 offers exterior measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-1 GPS has proportions of 116mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FX580 and Pentax WG-1 GPS in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the FX580 against the WG-1 GPS.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FX580 and WG-1 GPS is 95 and 93 respectively.

Typically, its hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizing merely by seeing specs. The photograph below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the FX580 and WG-1 GPS.

As you can plainly see, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Pentax WG-1 GPS to produce greater detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The older FX580 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.