Panasonic S2 vs Ricoh WG-30

Here, we are looking at the Panasonic S2 and Ricoh WG-30, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Waterproof by brands Panasonic and Ricoh. The image resolution of the S2 (14MP) and the WG-30 (16MP) is very close and both cameras boast the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The S2 was manufactured 3 years prior to the WG-30 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the S2 grades vs the WG-30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 & Ricoh WG-30. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic S2 Gallery & Ricoh WG-30 Gallery.

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic S2 provides physical dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs) and the Ricoh WG-30 has specifications of 123mm x 62mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic S2 and Ricoh WG-30 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the S2 compared to the WG-30.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S2 and WG-30 is 96 and 91 respectively.

Normally, it's tough to picture the contrast in sensor measurements purely by researching technical specs. The graphic here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the S2 and WG-30.

As you have seen, both cameras feature the identical sensor size but different resolution. You can expect to see the Ricoh WG-30 to render greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics way more aggressively. The older S2 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.