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Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-250mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 312g - 111 x 65 x 44mm
  • Launched January 2016
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ100
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS200
Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Released February 2012
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Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Following is a in-depth overview of the Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-2, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Waterproof by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the ZS100 (20MP) and WG-2 (16MP) and the ZS100 (1") and WG-2 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS100 was manufactured 3 years after the WG-2 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Pentax WG-2 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a brief summary of how the ZS100 scores against the WG-2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS100 over the Pentax WG-2

 ZS100 WG-2 
ReleasedJanuary 2016February 2012More modern by 48 months
Screen resolution1040k460kClearer screen (+580k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Panasonic ZS100

 WG-2 ZS100 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS100 and Pentax WG-2

 ZS100 WG-2 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS100 has got outer measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Pentax WG-2 has specifications of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the ZS100 against the WG-2.

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS100 and WG-2 is 87 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes merely by looking at specs. The image below will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS100 and WG-2.

As you can plainly see, both cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The ZS100 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS100 will give extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more recent ZS100 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Portrait photography advice
Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography advice
64
has manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
offers face detect focus
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
40
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
offers face detect focusing
no manual control
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Street photography details
Pentax WG-2 Street photography details
78
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
exports RAW formats
boasts touch focus
lighter than competitors (312g)
screen does not articulate
54
weather proof
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Sports photography camera
67
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
offers tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
38
good MP (16MP)
offers tracking focus
weather proof
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS100
Travel photography with Pentax WG-2
75
lighter than competitors (312 grams)
boasts touch focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
70
weather proof
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax WG-2 Landscape photography highlights
68
has manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
47
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good MP (16 megapixels)
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Vlogging details
Pentax WG-2 Vlogging details
35
relatively wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competitors (312 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone port
30
quite wide (28mm)
offers face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing mic support
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Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS100 and Pentax WG-2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100Pentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 Pentax Optio WG-2
Alternate name Lumix DMC-TZ100 -
Class Large Sensor Compact Waterproof
Launched 2016-01-05 2012-02-07
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type MOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 5472 x 3648 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Max enhanced ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 125 125
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 49 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 2.7 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 9.9 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.00 m (at Auto ISO) 5.40 m
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., 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
Video resolutions 4K/UHD (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p), 1920 x 1080 @ 60p/60i/30p/24p, 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 312g (0.69 lb) 192g (0.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 65 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 70 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 559 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images 260 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $700 $350