Panasonic TS20 vs Ricoh WG-30W: Ultimate Waterproof Compact Camera Showdown for Practical Photography

In the realm of rugged waterproof compacts, the Panasonic Lumix TS20 (aka DMC-FT20) and the Ricoh WG-30W stand out as two worthy contenders targeting hobbyists and adventurers needing a hardy photography partner. Having personally spent considerable hands-on time testing each under diverse outdoor conditions, I’m excited to dissect their capabilities, limitations, and real-world usability. Whether you are a casual traveler, underwater shooter, or outdoor sports enthusiast, this deep dive will reveal which camera aligns best with your needs.

Let’s start by sizing up their physical design and usability before digging into sensor performance, autofocus, real shooting examples, and genre-specific photography capability.

Compact and Tough: Ergonomics That Match the Adventure Activity

At first glance, each camera’s compactness defines its appeal. The Panasonic TS20 boasts a svelte 101x58x19 mm body, weighing a light 142 grams - almost pocketable and ideal for quick grab-and-go outings. The Ricoh WG-30W is bigger (123x62x30 mm) and heavier at 194 grams, reflecting its beefier build optimized for serious ruggedness. This difference matters if you’re prioritizing the smallest, lightest gear in your pack.

Ergonomic considerations go beyond size. The TS20’s slim profile is easier to handle for extended shooting, but I found the WG-30W offers a more confident grip with textured rubber grips and larger buttons better suited to gloved hands or wet conditions - a vital detail for cold-weather or underwater shooters.

Both cameras lack viewfinders - a common compromise in this category - but their LCD screens help offset this limitation, which I will analyze in detail shortly.

Visual Controls and Interface: How Each Camera Copes on the Fly

Spending hours shooting outdoors quickly revealed differences in control layout and responsiveness. The TS20 features a straightforward top layout with minimal buttons, leaning heavily on its fixed lens and basic exposure modes, suiting novices or shooters wanting simplicity. In contrast, the WG-30W offers additional buttons including a dedicated video record and exposure compensation (although manual exposure modes are missing on both), which speaks to its appeal toward enthusiasts wanting more control.

I appreciated the WG-30W's illuminated buttons that dramatically boost usability in dim environments - something missing on the TS20 that can cause fumbling during night hikes. Both cameras eschew touchscreens, so physical buttons remain essential for quick adjustments.

While both interfaces stay friendly to casual shooters, the WG-30W edges out in ergonomic practicality during active use scenarios.

Sensor Basics: Delivering Image Quality in Harsh Conditions

Moving under the hood, both employ 1/2.3" sensors with similar 16MP resolutions delivering a 4608x3456 max image output. This class sensor size is common for waterproof compacts, balancing size, cost, and post-processing flexibility.

The Panasonic TS20 uses a CCD sensor, a notable throwback in an era dominated by CMOS sensors, while the Ricoh WG-30W sports a newer CMOS sensor with distinct benefits in image quality and speed.

Looking at effective sensor area, they are nearly neck and neck - 27.72mm² versus 28.07mm² - but the difference in sensor tech and on-board processing impacts noise control, dynamic range, and color rendering.

In practical testing under various lighting:

• The WG-30W offers cleaner images at high ISO, thanks to its CMOS sensor design, making it better suited for dimly lit conditions.
• The TS20’s CCD sensor produces slightly richer colors in daylight but struggles more with noise above ISO 800.

Both feature an anti-aliasing filter to avoid moiré artifacts but remember this comes at a mild trade-off with fine detail sharpness.

Viewing the World: LCD Screen Quality and Touch Interface

Both cameras have identical 2.7-inch fixed TFT LCD screens with 230k pixel resolution - a modest specification reflecting their entry-level ruggedness. Neither screen sports touchscreen functionality, which can frustrate users accustomed to modern smartphones or mirrorless cameras but is understandable given the focus on rugged simplicity.

The Ricoh WG-30W’s LCD impressed me with slightly higher brightness and better color rendition for composing in bright sunlight, while the Panasonic TS20’s screen, though serviceable, struggled more outdoors without findable sun visors or brightness boosts.

Neither offers electronic viewfinders, so outdoors composing performance hinges on screen visibility - another reason why Ricoh’s nudges ahead for active outdoor use.

Real-World Image Comparisons: What Do They Capture?

Assessing image samples side-by-side in natural lighting, indoors, underwater, and shaded conditions provides practical clarity. Panasonic’s TS20 colors skew a bit warmer with pleasant but slightly muted vibrance, while Ricoh’s WG-30W maintains punchier colors and sharper details from its more modern sensor and image pipeline.

Edge clarity and distortion at wide focal lengths favor the WG-30W’s superior optic design. I noticed less barrel distortion and better avoidance of chromatic aberrations, which is impressive when shooting landscapes or critical detail.

Underwater, both cameras hold their own faithfully capturing vibrant marine blues and subtle coral textures. However, the WG-30W’s ability to focus down to 1cm macro range allowed me to capture compelling close-ups of vibrant reef fauna, something Panasonic's TS20 at 5cm macro minimum struggled with.

Panasonic TS20 front Panasonic TS20 screen back Ricoh WG 30W front Ricoh WG 30W screen back

Both cameras conserve detail well at base ISO but fall off in sharpness when pushed to higher ISOs or shadows.

Autofocus and Burst Speed: Catching Fleeting Moments Outdoors

Autofocus remains a critical factor for outdoor and action shooting. Neither camera features phase-detection AF, relying exclusively on contrast detection autofocus - typical for compacts of this category.

The Panasonic TS20 employs 23 focus points offering broad coverage but limited sophistication. It can perform face tracking but lacks eye detection or animal AF features, which means wildlife or sports targeting requires patience and steady hands.

Ricoh’s WG-30W pares down to 9 AF points but adds face detection, enhancing portrait and general subject tracking reliability. For moving subjects, it proved more consistent and responsive during my tests, though continuous autofocus remains a weak point overall.

Both cameras offer a paltry 1 frame per second burst rate, meaning fast action photographers are better served elsewhere. But for casual wildlife or sports snapshots, the WG-30W’s slight edge in AF accuracy makes it more capable.

Waterproof, Dustproof, and Shockproof Credentials: Ruggedness Beyond the Specs

Both cameras emphasize durability but take slightly different approaches.

The Panasonic TS20 is waterproof to depths of approximately 7 meters, shockproof from 1.5m drops, freeze-proof to –10°C, and dustproof. Its slim form factor means it can easily slip between gear without hassle.

Conversely, the Ricoh WG-30W pushes ruggedness further with waterproofing rated to 14 meters, crushproof to 100kgf, shockproof from 1.5m, and freezeproof to –10°C. Notably, it lacks dustproof sealing, a slight downside for sandy or dusty environments.

If your pursuits include snorkeling or rugged mountaineering, the WG-30W’s superior waterproof and crushproof specs provide an undeniable advantage. I tested both underwater - WG-30W inspired more confidence at greater depths.

Genres Tested Across: How Each Performs for Photography Disciplines

Let me break down camera suitability by photography genre based on hands-on tests and feature sets:

Portrait Photography

• Ricoh WG-30W shines with face detection autofocus helping maintain critical sharpness on eyes.
• Its closer macro focusing (1cm) and 5x zoom (28–140mm equivalent) offers versatile framing.
• Panasonic TS20 is serviceable for casual portraits but less adept at fine AF precision or bokeh quality given variable aperture (F3.9–5.7).

Landscape Photography

• Panasonic’s slightly wider native lens (25mm vs 28mm) is a modest plus.
• WG-30W images offer better detail rendition due to CMOS sensor and sharper optics.
• Both lack advanced bracketing modes but WG-30W’s AE bracketing (absent in TS20) helps capture high dynamic range scenes more effectively.
• Weather sealing on both cameras is reliable enough for most conditions.

Wildlife Photography

• WG-30W autofocus tracking and 5x zoom outperform.
• TS20’s slow AF hampers capturing fast-moving animals.
• Burst speed-low on both, but WG-30W’s more precise AF wins this category handily.

Sports Photography

Neither camera targets serious sports photography due to low continuous shooting speeds and modest AF; the WG-30W’s superior AF locks still give slight advantage for casual shooting.

Street Photography

• Panasonic TS20’s smaller size and lighter weight favor concealment and portability.
• WG-30W bulkier but more rugged.
• Neither is particularly fast-focusing or discreet, but TS20’s simplicity aids swift snapshots.

Macro Photography

• WG-30W’s 1cm minimum focusing distance and digital image stabilization dominate.
• TS20’s 5cm macro focus restricts close-up potential substantially.

Night and Astro Photography

• Both struggle with sensor noise above ISO 800.
• WG-30W cleaner images in low light.
• Lack of manual exposure modes limit creative astro work.
• AE bracketing on WG aids exposure control at night.

Video Capabilities

• WG-30W supports full HD 1080p at 30 fps using H.264 codec.
• TS20 limited to 720p HD video.
• WG also includes time-lapse recording, absent in TS20.
• Neither options have microphone/headphone ports - restricting audio control.

Travel Photography

• TS20’s lighter, smaller form works for travelers seeking simplicity.
• WG-30W offers more versatility with zoom range and ruggedness, ideal for rough environments.
• WG wins in battery life by margin (300 vs 250 shots per charge).

Professional Work

• Neither aimed at professionals due to lack of RAW output, full manual controls, or advanced workflow integration.
• Both offer JPEG only and basic exposure options.

Technical Analysis Summary

Referencing these specifications alongside real-world experience underlines the WG-30W’s status as the more versatile and rugged camera, albeit at a higher price and larger footprint.

Connectivity and Storage: Staying Current… or Not

Neither camera supports Bluetooth or NFC - a disappointment given smart device integration is critical in modern camera ecosystems. WiFi connectivity is only present on the Ricoh WG-30W, which allows remote control and easy image transfer - a major advantage for instant social sharing or remote shooting, especially during water or cold-weather activities.

Both models permit SD/SDHC/SDXC storage, supporting ample storage flexibility, and USB 2.0 port connectivity for transferring files to computers.

Price and Value: Balancing Budget with Capability

With current market pricing at approximately $179 for Panasonic TS20 and $279 for Ricoh WG-30W, your budget constraints will heavily influence choice.

The Panasonic offers a solid waterproof camera experience at a very accessible price, perfect for beginners or casual users not requiring advanced features.

Ricoh’s WG-30W commands a premium justified by enhanced ruggedness, superior sensor, better optics, full HD video, and modern connectivity.

Judging Overall Performance and Suitability

Let’s take a look at overall performance ratings compiled from expert hands-on testing across core metrics:

Here, the WG-30W clearly outperforms the TS20 by a non-trivial margin, particularly in image quality, video capability, and ruggedness.

Specialized Genre Rating Comparison: Which Camera Excels Where?

Breaking down performance by photography type helps photographers match gear to their pursuits:

• The Panasonic TS20 scores solidly for urban travel and casual underwater shooting.
• The Ricoh WG-30W excels in active adventure, macro, and video recording, making it a better all-around travel companion and versatile rugged camera.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

So, after immersing myself in both cameras under a variety of shooting scenarios - what’s the verdict?

• Choose the Panasonic Lumix TS20 if:

  • You want an extremely compact, pocketable waterproof camera that fits casual beach days, family outings, and urban snapshooting.
  • Your budget is tight but you still want reliable weatherproof protection.
  • You value simple operation over advanced features.
  • You are not particularly concerned with professional-level image quality or fast autofocus.

• Choose the Ricoh WG-30W if:

  • You need true ruggedness capable of extended underwater use, harsh conditions, and crush resistance.
  • Video quality matters - full HD plus time-lapse mode.
  • You want improved autofocus with face detection and more precise macro capability.
  • Wireless connectivity and remote control are important for your shooting workflow.
  • Willing to invest a bit more for significantly better performance and versatility.

This comparison underscores the vital principle: while both cameras are entry-level rugged compacts, the Ricoh WG-30W stakes its claim as the more serious adventure camera, whereas the Panasonic TS20 serves casual users looking for simple reliability.

If you're an explorer or enthusiast dedicating real time to rugged photography, the incremental investment in the WG-30W pays dividends in image quality, features, and durability. But for weekend warriors or first-time waterproof camera buyers, the Panasonic TS20 remains a fine, uncomplicated choice.

I hope this detailed exploration - backed up by profound hands-on testing and image analysis - equips you to pick the right companion for your adventures. Safe shooting!

Keep exploring, keep creating, and as always, happy shooting.