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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS

Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Key Specs

Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2013
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
  • Revealed February 2012
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Panasonic SZ3 versus Pentax WG-2 GPS, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Waterproof by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ3 (16MP) and the WG-2 GPS (16MP) is relatively close and they enjoy the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ3 was brought out 12 months later than the WG-2 GPS so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a in depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the SZ3 grades versus the WG-2 GPS when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Pentax WG-2 GPS

 SZ3 WG-2 GPS 
RevealedJanuary 2013February 2012More recent by 12 months

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 GPS over the Panasonic SZ3

 WG-2 GPS SZ3 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax WG-2 GPS

 SZ3 WG-2 GPS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic SZ3 comes with outside dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Pentax WG-2 GPS has dimensions 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 out the Panasonic SZ3 versus Pentax WG-2 GPS in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is the front view size comparison of the SZ3 vs the WG-2 GPS.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ3 and WG-2 GPS is 96 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to visualize the difference in sensor measurements only by researching a spec sheet. The graphic here may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ3 and WG-2 GPS.

As you can see, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the identical megapixels so you should expect comparable quality of pictures however you should really take the production date of the cameras into account. The more recent SZ3 provides an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax WG-2 GPS Portrait photography highlights
30
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
40
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
has face detect focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Street photography information
Pentax WG-2 GPS Street photography information
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (126g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
54
weather proof
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography info
Pentax WG-2 GPS Sports photography info
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
38
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
weather proof
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Travel photography camera
71
lighter than competitors (126 grams)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
no Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
70
weather proof
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography factors
Pentax WG-2 GPS Landscape photography factors
39
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Timelapse mode
47
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
good resolution (16MP)
weather proof
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging features
Pentax WG-2 GPS Vlogging features
31
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (126 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone jack
30
quite wide (28mm)
has face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have mic port
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ3 and Pentax WG-2 GPS
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
Class Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Introduced 2013-01-07 2012-02-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT LCD Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.10 m 5.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 126g (0.28 lb) 198g (0.44 lb)
Dimensions 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 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
Battery form 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 One One
Price at release $150 $300