Panasonic G3 vs Pentax WS80

In this write-up, we are matching up the Panasonic G3 vs Pentax WS80, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the G3 (16MP) and WS80 (10MP) and the G3 (Four Thirds) and WS80 (1/2.3") use different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The G3 was brought out 24 months after the WS80 making the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WS80 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the G3 grades against the WS80 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 and Pentax Optio WS80. The entire galleries are available at Panasonic G3 Gallery and Pentax WS80 Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic G3 comes with physical measurements of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Pentax WS80 has dimensions of 92mm x 60mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic G3 vs Pentax WS80 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the G3 versus the WS80.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G3 and WS80 is 83 and 95 respectively.

More often than not, it's tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading through a spec sheet. The pic here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the G3 and WS80.

As you can see, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The G3 because of its larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic G3 will resolve extra detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics far more aggressively. The more modern G3 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.