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Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh WG-4

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
34
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
 
Ricoh WG-4 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh WG-4 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Revealed July 2012
Ricoh WG-4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Announced February 2014
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh WG-4 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Panasonic SZ5 and Ricoh WG-4, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Waterproof by companies Panasonic and Ricoh. The image resolution of the SZ5 (14MP) and the WG-4 (16MP) is fairly similar and both cameras have the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ5 was introduced 18 months before the WG-4 making them a generation apart from one another. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the SZ5 grades against the WG-4 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Ricoh WG-4

 SZ5 WG-4 

Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-4 over the Panasonic SZ5

 WG-4 SZ5 
AnnouncedFebruary 2014July 2012Fresher by 18 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ5 and Ricoh WG-4

 SZ5 WG-4 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh WG-4 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic SZ5 provides outer dimensions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Ricoh WG-4 has measurements of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic SZ5 and Ricoh WG-4 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ5 versus the WG-4.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh WG-4 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ5 and WG-4 is 95 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh WG-4 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh WG-4 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizing simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ5 and WG-4.

As you can see, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You should anticipate the Ricoh WG-4 to offer you more detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos more aggressively. The older SZ5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh WG-4 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh WG-4 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh WG-4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 as a Portrait photography camera
Ricoh WG-4 as a Portrait photography camera
33
MP count decent (14MP)
supports face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
41
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers face detect focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ5
Street photography with Ricoh WG-4
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (136 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic SZ5
Sports photography with Ricoh WG-4
39
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (240 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography info
Ricoh WG-4 Travel photography info
70
lighter than average in class (136g)
MP count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
72
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
terrible battery (240 per charge)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography information
Ricoh WG-4 Landscape photography information
42
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
54
has manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
terrible battery (240 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic SZ5
Vlogging with Ricoh WG-4
32
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than average in class (136g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone support
36
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
missing microphone socket
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Ricoh WG-4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ5 and Ricoh WG-4
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5Ricoh WG-4
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Ricoh
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Ricoh WG-4
Category Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Revealed 2012-07-18 2014-02-05
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Screen LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m 10.00 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye, on + redeye
External flash
AEB
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 (30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 136 grams (0.30 lb) 230 grams (0.51 lb)
Physical dimensions 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3")
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 photos 240 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $195 $330