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Panasonic G5 vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
66
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax WG-1 Key Specs

Panasonic G5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 83 x 71mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Superseded the Panasonic G3
  • Newer Model is Panasonic G6
Pentax WG-1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced February 2011
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Panasonic G5 vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Panasonic G5 versus Pentax WG-1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the G5 (16MP) and the WG-1 (14MP) is very comparable but the G5 (Four Thirds) and WG-1 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor size.

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The G5 was introduced 18 months later than the WG-1 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the G5 scores against the WG-1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G5 over the Pentax WG-1

 G5 WG-1 
IntroducedJuly 2012February 2011More recent by 18 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Panasonic G5

 WG-1 G5 

Common features in the Panasonic G5 and Pentax WG-1

 G5 WG-1 
Manually focus Very precise focus

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic G5 offers exterior measurements of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") with a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-1 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic G5 versus Pentax WG-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the G5 compared to the WG-1.

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the G5 and WG-1 is 74 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to see the gap in sensor measurements merely by checking out specifications. The graphic here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the G5 and WG-1.

To sum up, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The G5 having a larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic G5 will produce greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The more modern G5 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G5 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G5 Portrait photography factors
Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography factors
71
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
35
has manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic G5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Street photography camera
66
screen articulates fully
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
no image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (396 grams)
54
environment proof
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G5 Sports photography features
Pentax WG-1 Sports photography features
51
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 fps)
no image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
37
good MP (14MP)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G5 Travel photography factors
Pentax WG-1 Travel photography factors
66
boasts focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (396g)
71
environment proof
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G5 Landscape photography factors
Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography factors
65
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
42
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
good MP (14MP)
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Vlogging camera
62
selfie friendly display
touch screen
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no image stabilization
missing microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (396 grams)
25
fairly wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic port
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Panasonic G5 vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G5 and Pentax WG-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5Pentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 Pentax Optio WG-1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Introduced 2012-07-17 2011-02-07
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine VII FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.50 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 396 gr (0.87 lb) 157 gr (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 120 x 83 x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 61 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 618 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 images 260 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $699 $350