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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Panasonic GH3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 550g - 133 x 93 x 82mm
  • Launched September 2012
  • Older Model is Panasonic GH2
  • Later Model is Panasonic GH4
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
  • Released February 2012
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax WG-2, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GH3 (16MP) and the WG-2 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the GH3 (Four Thirds) and WG-2 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor measurements.

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The GH3 was revealed 8 months after the WG-2 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WG-2 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief overview of how the GH3 scores against the WG-2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Pentax WG-2

 GH3 WG-2 
ReleasedSeptember 2012February 2012More modern by 8 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution614k460kCrisper display (+154k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Panasonic GH3

 WG-2 GH3 

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Pentax WG-2

 GH3 WG-2 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurements

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH3 has outside measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Pentax WG-2 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax WG-2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is a front view size comparison of the GH3 and the WG-2.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GH3 and WG-2 is 66 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to see the contrast between sensor sizes just by looking at specs. The picture below will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the GH3 and WG-2.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras come with the identical megapixel count but not the same sensor sizes. The GH3 uses the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallower DOF easier. The younger GH3 will have a benefit in sensor technology.

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography info
Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography info
71
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW formats
40
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
no manual control
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Street photography advice
Pentax WG-2 Street photography advice
65
screen articulates
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
features touch to focus
weather sealing
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (550 grams)
54
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Sports photography advice
Pentax WG-2 Sports photography advice
63
fast shooting (20.0 frames per second)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
better than average battery power (540 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
38
good resolution (16MP)
offers tracking focus
weather proofing
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GH3
Travel photography with Pentax WG-2
71
better than average battery power (540 per charge)
weather sealing
features touch to focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
more heavy than competition (550g)
70
weather proofing
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Landscape photography information
Pentax WG-2 Landscape photography information
71
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
better than average battery power (540 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
47
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
good resolution (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GH3
Vlogging with Pentax WG-2
65
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone support
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (550g)
30
fairly wide (28mm)
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of mic jack
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Panasonic GH3 vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Pentax WG-2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Pentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Pentax Optio WG-2
Class Advanced Mirrorless Waterproof
Launched 2012-09-17 2012-02-07
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine VII FHD -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 614 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology OLED Monitor with static touch control Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,744 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 20.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 5.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 24 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 550 grams (1.21 lbs) 192 grams (0.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 812 not tested
Other
Battery life 540 photographs 260 photographs
Form 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 recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $799 $350