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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax WG-3

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
 
Pentax WG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax WG-3 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Introduced June 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS20
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
  • Introduced July 2013
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax WG-3 Overview

Here is a thorough comparison of the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax WG-3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Waterproof by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the ZS15 (12MP) and WG-3 (16MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The ZS15 was unveiled 12 months earlier than the WG-3 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the ZS15 matches up against the WG-3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Pentax WG-3

 ZS15 WG-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Panasonic ZS15

 WG-3 ZS15 
IntroducedJuly 2013June 2012Fresher by 12 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax WG-3

 ZS15 WG-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax WG-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS15 features outside dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-3 has sizing of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax WG-3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the ZS15 versus the WG-3.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax WG-3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS15 and WG-3 is 92 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax WG-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax WG-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing only by seeing technical specs. The visual underneath will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS15 and WG-3.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Pentax WG-3 to provide greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots much more aggressively. The older ZS15 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax WG-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography features
Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography features
21
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
41
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS15
Street photography with Pentax WG-3
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (208g)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-3 as a Sports photography camera
36
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
slow frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery life (260 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (240 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS15
Travel photography with Pentax WG-3
61
lighter than competition (208 grams)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (384mm)
lack of Timelapse function
low battery life (260 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
72
weather sealing
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
bad battery pack (240 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography factors
Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography factors
37
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
low battery life (260 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
54
manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
bad battery pack (240 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging advice
Pentax WG-3 Vlogging advice
33
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (208 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone socket
36
fairly wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone jack
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Pentax WG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS15 and Pentax WG-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15Pentax WG-3
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 Pentax WG-3
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ25 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Introduced 2012-06-29 2013-07-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-384mm (16.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.40 m 3.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 208g (0.46 pounds) 230g (0.51 pounds)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" 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 260 images 240 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $279 $300