Clicky

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Old Model is Panasonic GF7
Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Introduced February 2012
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Below, we are matching up the Panasonic GF8 versus Pentax WG-2, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GF8 (16MP) and the WG-2 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the GF8 (Four Thirds) and WG-2 (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The GF8 was revealed 4 years after the WG-2 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WG-2 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a full comparison, below is a quick view of how the GF8 grades against the WG-2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Pentax WG-2

 GF8 WG-2 
IntroducedFebruary 2016February 2012More modern by 49 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k460kSharper display (+580k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Panasonic GF8

 WG-2 GF8 

Common features in the Panasonic GF8 and Pentax WG-2

 GF8 WG-2 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF8 offers external dimensions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-2 has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GF8 versus Pentax WG-2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the GF8 versus the WG-2.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the GF8 and WG-2 is 90 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes only by looking at technical specs. The image underneath will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the GF8 and WG-2.

As you can tell, each of the cameras posses the exact same resolution but different sensor sizes. The GF8 contains the larger sensor which will make obtaining bokeh less difficult. The more recent GF8 should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography highlights
65
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
40
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features face detection focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Street Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Street photography highlights
Pentax WG-2 Street photography highlights
80
tilting screen
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
54
weather sealing
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Sports photography features
Pentax WG-2 Sports photography features
49
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
continuous shooting slow (5.8 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
38
resolution is good (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Travel photography factors
Pentax WG-2 Travel photography factors
66
includes focus by touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (230 CIPA)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
70
weather sealing
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF8 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Landscape photography camera
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
bad battery pack (230 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
47
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Vlogging information
Pentax WG-2 Vlogging information
33
touchscreen capability
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone jack
30
relatively wide (28mm)
features face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
no external microphone support
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF8 and Pentax WG-2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8Pentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 Pentax Optio WG-2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Revealed 2016-02-15 2012-02-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3448 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/500s 1/4000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 5.8 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m (at ISO 200) 5.40 m
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 266 gr (0.59 lbs) 192 gr (0.42 lbs)
Dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 230 images 260 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $549 $350