Panasonic FZ70 vs Pentax WS80

On this page, we are evaluating the Panasonic FZ70 versus Pentax WS80, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Waterproof by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the FZ70 (16MP) and WS80 (10MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The FZ70 was announced 4 years later than the WS80 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FZ70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax WS80 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the FZ70 matches up against the WS80 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 & Pentax Optio WS80. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic FZ70 Gallery & Pentax WS80 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FZ70 has outer measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 118mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 4.6") and a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) while the Pentax WS80 has dimensions of 92mm x 60mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FZ70 versus Pentax WS80 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the FZ70 and the WS80.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the FZ70 and WS80 is 63 and 95 respectively.

Often, it's hard to visualise the difference in sensor measurements only by seeing specs. The photograph below might give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the FZ70 and WS80.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Panasonic FZ70 to produce more detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more recent FZ70 is going to have a benefit in sensor innovation.