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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS

Portability
91
Imaging
53
Features
62
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Key Specs

Panasonic GM5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 211g - 99 x 60 x 36mm
  • Released September 2014
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GM1
Pentax WG-2 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 198g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Released February 2012
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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Overview

Here is a extensive review of the Panasonic GM5 versus Pentax WG-2 GPS, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GM5 (16MP) and the WG-2 GPS (16MP) is pretty well matched but the GM5 (Four Thirds) and WG-2 GPS (1/2.3") have different sensor dimensions.

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The GM5 was manufactured 2 years later than the WG-2 GPS and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GM5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WG-2 GPS being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summary of how the GM5 grades against the WG-2 GPS with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GM5 over the Pentax WG-2 GPS

 GM5 WG-2 GPS 
ReleasedSeptember 2014February 2012Fresher by 32 months
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 GPS over the Panasonic GM5

 WG-2 GPS GM5 

Common features in the Panasonic GM5 and Pentax WG-2 GPS

 GM5 WG-2 GPS 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GM5 comes with outside measurements of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Pentax WG-2 GPS has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GM5 versus Pentax WG-2 GPS in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the GM5 compared to the WG-2 GPS.

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the GM5 and WG-2 GPS is 91 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing merely by checking specs. The visual below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the GM5 and WG-2 GPS.

As you can plainly see, both cameras feature the identical resolution albeit different sensor sizing. The GM5 provides the bigger sensor which should make getting shallower DOF less difficult. The younger GM5 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS sensor size comparison

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GM5 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW files
40
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GM5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Street photography camera
76
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has focus by touch
lighter than competitors (211 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
54
environment sealing
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Sports photography highlights
Pentax WG-2 GPS Sports photography highlights
48
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/500 seconds)
very slow continuous shooting (5.8 frames per second)
no image stabilization
terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
38
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Travel photography factors
Pentax WG-2 GPS Travel photography factors
71
lighter than competitors (211 grams)
has focus by touch
MP count good (16MP)
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly display
70
environment sealing
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GM5
Landscape photography with Pentax WG-2 GPS
69
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
47
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
resolution is good (16MP)
environment sealing
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Vlogging factors
Pentax WG-2 GPS Vlogging factors
34
touch screen
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (211 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
no external microphone jack
30
quite wide (28mm)
offers face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
missing external microphone jack
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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GM5 and Pentax WG-2 GPS
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2014-09-15 2012-02-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias 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
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 921 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/500s 1/4000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 5.8 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.40 m
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 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 format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 211 gr (0.47 lb) 198 gr (0.44 lb)
Physical dimensions 99 x 60 x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 721 not tested
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 260 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DMW-BLH7 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $966 $300