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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax WG-1 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
Pentax WG-1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched February 2011
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

Below is a thorough assessment of the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax WG-1, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ1 (16MP) and the WG-1 (14MP) is relatively close and they use the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ1 was manufactured 12 months later than the WG-1 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a short summation of how the SZ1 scores vs the WG-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Pentax WG-1

 SZ1 WG-1 
LaunchedJanuary 2012February 2011More recent by 12 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Panasonic SZ1

 WG-1 SZ1 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax WG-1

 SZ1 WG-1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic SZ1 enjoys exterior dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Pentax WG-1 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

See the Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax WG-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ1 and the WG-1.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ1 and WG-1 is 95 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by viewing specs. The visual underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ1 and WG-1.

All in all, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Panasonic SZ1 to result in more detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The fresher SZ1 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography details
Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography details
34
decent megapixels (16MP)
offers face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
35
manual focus
decent MP (14 megapixels)
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Street photography features
Pentax WG-1 Street photography features
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (131g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
54
weather proofing
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography information
Pentax WG-1 Sports photography information
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
37
decent MP (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
weather proofing
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic SZ1
Travel photography with Pentax WG-1
70
lighter than competition in class (131g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
missing Time Lapse function
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
71
weather proofing
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography advice
Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography advice
43
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
42
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
weather proofing
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging factors
Pentax WG-1 Vlogging factors
32
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
lighter than competition in class (131g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
25
really wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone jack
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Panasonic SZ1 vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Pentax WG-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Pentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Pentax Optio WG-1
Class Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Introduced 2012-01-09 2011-02-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 4cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 131 gr (0.29 lbs) 157 gr (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs 260 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $179 $350