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Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax WG-3

Portability
91
Imaging
32
Features
25
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
 
Pentax WG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
44
Overall
41

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax WG-3 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ6
Pentax WG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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 July 2013
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax WG-3 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax WG-3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the ZS1 (10MP) and WG-3 (16MP) and the ZS1 (1/2.5") and WG-3 (1/2.3") provide different sensor measurements.

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The ZS1 was launched 5 years earlier than the WG-3 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the ZS1 scores versus the WG-3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Pentax WG-3

 ZS1 WG-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Panasonic ZS1

 WG-3 ZS1 
AnnouncedJuly 2013May 2009Fresher by 50 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax WG-3

 ZS1 WG-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax WG-3 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS1 provides external measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax WG-3 has dimensions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax WG-3 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 vary depending on the lens you have at that moment. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the ZS1 versus the WG-3.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax WG-3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS1 and WG-3 is 91 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax WG-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax WG-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing simply by going through a spec sheet. The graphic here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS1 and WG-3.

Clearly, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The ZS1 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax WG-3 will show greater detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots way more aggressively. The older ZS1 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax WG-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax WG-3 as a Portrait photography camera
24
provides face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
40
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes face detection autofocus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Street photography info
Pentax WG-3 Street photography info
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-3 as a Sports photography camera
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect autofocus
44
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (240 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax WG-3 as a Travel photography camera
62
lighter than competition in class (229g)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
72
environment sealing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
terrible battery pack (240 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography information
Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography information
30
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
53
manual focus
really wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
terrible battery pack (240 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging highlights
Pentax WG-3 Vlogging highlights
31
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly display
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have microphone port
36
really wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic jack
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Pentax WG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS1 and Pentax WG-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1Pentax WG-3
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Pentax WG-3
Also called as Lumix DMC-TZ6 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Introduced 2009-05-14 2013-07-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
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 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 6.3 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 3.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 229 gr (0.50 lb) 230 gr (0.51 lb)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3")
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 - 240 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $0 $300