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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Key Specs

Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2011
Pentax WG-2 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 198g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Launched February 2012
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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Panasonic S3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Waterproof by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the S3 (14MP) and the WG-2 GPS (16MP) is very comparable and both cameras boast the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The S3 was manufactured 13 months prior to the WG-2 GPS making them a generation away from one another. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a short view of how the S3 matches up versus the WG-2 GPS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Pentax WG-2 GPS

 S3 WG-2 GPS 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 GPS over the Panasonic S3

 WG-2 GPS S3 
LaunchedFebruary 2012January 2011Newer by 13 months
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic S3 and Pentax WG-2 GPS

 S3 WG-2 GPS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic S3 enjoys outer measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Pentax WG-2 GPS has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic S3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the S3 compared to the WG-2 GPS.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S3 and WG-2 GPS is 96 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions purely by checking out specs. The image below will give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the S3 and WG-2 GPS.

All in all, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size but different resolution. You should expect to see the Pentax WG-2 GPS to produce more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged S3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS sensor size comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S3 Portrait photography details
Pentax WG-2 GPS Portrait photography details
28
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
40
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
features face detect focusing
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S3 Street photography factors
Pentax WG-2 GPS Street photography factors
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
54
environment sealing
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S3 Sports photography details
Pentax WG-2 GPS Sports photography details
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
38
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
environment sealing
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic S3
Travel photography with Pentax WG-2 GPS
68
lighter than competition in class (117g)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
70
environment sealing
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Landscape photography camera
38
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
47
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S3 Vlogging advice
Pentax WG-2 GPS Vlogging advice
31
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic support
30
reasonably wide (28mm)
features face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no microphone jack
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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S3 and Pentax WG-2 GPS
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
Type Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Released 2011-01-05 2012-02-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine IV -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.6 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT LCD Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.30 m 5.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 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 data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 117 gr (0.26 pounds) 198 gr (0.44 pounds)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 250 photos 260 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $110 $300