Panasonic G5 vs Pentax WS80

Following is a in-depth comparison of the Panasonic G5 and Pentax WS80, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the G5 (16MP) and WS80 (10MP) and the G5 (Four Thirds) and WS80 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The G5 was unveiled 2 years after the WS80 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WS80 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short introduction of how the G5 scores versus the WS80 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 & Pentax Optio WS80. The full galleries are available at Panasonic G5 Gallery & Pentax WS80 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic G5 offers exterior measurements of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") along with a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) while the Pentax WS80 has proportions of 92mm x 60mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check the Panasonic G5 and Pentax WS80 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the G5 compared to the WS80.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G5 and WS80 is 74 and 95 respectively.

Quite often, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizes just by looking through specifications. The pic below may give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the G5 and WS80.

To sum up, both cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The G5 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic G5 will provide you with more detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The younger G5 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.