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Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Announced July 2012
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
  • Introduced February 2012
Photography Glossary

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Below is a extended analysis of the Panasonic SZ5 and Pentax WG-2, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Waterproof by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ5 (14MP) and the WG-2 (16MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras have the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ5 was launched 6 months later than the WG-2 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the SZ5 scores vs the WG-2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Pentax WG-2

 SZ5 WG-2 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Panasonic SZ5

 WG-2 SZ5 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ5 and Pentax WG-2

 SZ5 WG-2 
IntroducedJuly 2012February 2012Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic SZ5 offers physical measurements of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Pentax WG-2 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic SZ5 and Pentax WG-2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ5 versus the WG-2.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ5 and WG-2 is 95 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to envision the contrast in sensor measurements just by going through specifications. The graphic here should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ5 and WG-2.

To sum up, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Pentax WG-2 to show more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Portrait photography camera
34
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
40
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Street photography camera
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (136g)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
54
weather sealing
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Sports photography camera
40
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
38
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather sealing
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic SZ5
Travel photography with Pentax WG-2
70
lighter than others in class (136g)
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
does not have Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
70
weather sealing
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography information
Pentax WG-2 Landscape photography information
42
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
47
you can focus manually
relatively wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Vlogging camera
32
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
lighter than others in class (136 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone socket
30
relatively wide (28mm)
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
lack of external mic jack
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ5 and Pentax WG-2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5Pentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Pentax Optio WG-2
Class Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Announced 2012-07-18 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 area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
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)
Highest 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 sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Screen LCD Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m 5.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 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 file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 136 grams (0.30 lbs) 192 grams (0.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
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 shots 260 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $195 $350