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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS

Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
 
Pentax WG-3 GPS front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
43
Overall
40

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Key Specs

Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Released January 2014
Pentax WG-3 GPS
(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
  • 238g - 125 x 64 x 33mm
  • Announced July 2013
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Overview

The following is a extensive comparison of the Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Waterproof by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SZ8 (16MP) and the WG-3 GPS (16MP) is fairly comparable and they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ8 was manufactured 6 months after the WG-3 GPS and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a full comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the SZ8 matches up against the WG-3 GPS when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Pentax WG-3 GPS

 SZ8 WG-3 GPS 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 GPS over the Panasonic SZ8

 WG-3 GPS SZ8 
Focus manually More exact focusing

Common features in the Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax WG-3 GPS

 SZ8 WG-3 GPS 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014July 2013Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic SZ8 comes with external dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Pentax WG-3 GPS has dimensions of 125mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 238 grams (0.52 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ8 and the WG-3 GPS.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ8 and WG-3 GPS is 94 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions merely by checking out specs. The image here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ8 and WG-3 GPS.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same resolution and you should expect comparable quality of files however you will need to consider the production date of the cameras into account.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography information
Pentax WG-3 GPS Portrait photography information
35
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
40
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers face detection focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Street photography highlights
Pentax WG-3 GPS Street photography highlights
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (159g)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
58
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
heavier than competition (238 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography info
Pentax WG-3 GPS Sports photography info
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (240 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic SZ8
Travel photography with Pentax WG-3 GPS
67
lighter than others (159g)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (288mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (200 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
68
environment sealing
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery life (240 shots)
heavier than competition (238g)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-3 GPS as a Landscape photography camera
42
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
not so great battery pack (200 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
53
focusing manually
pretty wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
not so great battery life (240 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging highlights
Pentax WG-3 GPS Vlogging highlights
32
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
lighter than others (159g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic support
34
pretty wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
missing external mic socket
heavier than competition (238 grams)
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ8 and Pentax WG-3 GPS
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8Pentax WG-3 GPS
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 Pentax WG-3 GPS
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Released 2014-01-06 2013-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine -
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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-288mm (12.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.3 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT LCD Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.20 m 3.40 m
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 159g (0.35 pounds) 238g (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 125 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 photos 240 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $275 $350