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Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
67
Imaging
45
Features
35
Overall
41
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Panasonic LZ40
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 22-924mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 524g - 126 x 87 x 94mm
  • Announced January 2014
  • Older Model is Panasonic LZ30
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 LZ40 vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Here is a extensive overview of the Panasonic LZ40 and Pentax WG-2, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Waterproof by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the LZ40 (20MP) and WG-2 (16MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The LZ40 was launched 24 months later than the WG-2 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic LZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax WG-2 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the LZ40 grades vs the WG-2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ40 over the Pentax WG-2

 LZ40 WG-2 
ReleasedJanuary 2014February 2012Fresher by 24 months

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Panasonic LZ40

 WG-2 LZ40 
Focus manually Very exact focusing

Common features in the Panasonic LZ40 and Pentax WG-2

 LZ40 WG-2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic LZ40 offers external dimensions of 126mm x 87mm x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") and a weight of 524 grams (1.16 lbs) while the Pentax WG-2 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic LZ40 and Pentax WG-2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the LZ40 versus the WG-2.

Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the LZ40 and WG-2 is 67 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizing only by reading technical specs. The visual here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the LZ40 and WG-2.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Panasonic LZ40 to offer you more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more modern LZ40 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LZ40 Portrait photography features
Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography features
40
good resolution (20 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
40
has manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic LZ40
Street photography with Pentax WG-2
45
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
more heavy than competition in class (524g)
54
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LZ40 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Sports photography camera
47
amazing zoom range (22-924mm 42.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
provides tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
38
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic LZ40
Travel photography with Pentax WG-2
55
good resolution (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (22mm)
long reach (924mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (524 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
70
weather sealing
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LZ40 Landscape photography features
Pentax WG-2 Landscape photography features
44
relatively wide (22mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
47
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic LZ40
Vlogging with Pentax WG-2
27
relatively wide (22mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
does have microphone socket
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
more heavy than competition in class (524g)
30
reasonably wide (28mm)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have external microphone support
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Panasonic LZ40 vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ40 and Pentax WG-2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40Pentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 Pentax Optio WG-2
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Announced 2014-01-06 2012-02-07
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5152 x 3864 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 22-924mm (42.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT LCD Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.80 m 5.40 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 524 gr (1.16 lb) 192 gr (0.42 lb)
Dimensions 126 x 87 x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 320 photos 260 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $219 $350