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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 198g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2013
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS35
Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Launched February 2012
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Following is a extensive assessment of the Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax WG-2, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Waterproof by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the ZS30 (18MP) and the WG-2 (16MP) is very comparable and they use the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The ZS30 was introduced 12 months after the WG-2 and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a short introduction of how the ZS30 matches up versus the WG-2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Pentax WG-2

 ZS30 WG-2 
LaunchedJanuary 2013February 2012More modern by 12 months
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Panasonic ZS30

 WG-2 ZS30 
Focus manually More accurate focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax WG-2

 ZS30 WG-2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS30 offers outside dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) and the Pentax WG-2 has proportions of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax WG-2 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 vary based on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the ZS30 versus the WG-2.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS30 and WG-2 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by going through specs. The picture here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS30 and WG-2.

All in all, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Panasonic ZS30 to provide more detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The more modern ZS30 should have an advantage in sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography factors
Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography factors
33
good MP (18MP)
no manual focus
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
40
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
includes face detect focusing
no manual control
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Street photography highlights
Pentax WG-2 Street photography highlights
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
features touch to focus
lighter than competition (198 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
54
weather sealing
fixed screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography details
Pentax WG-2 Sports photography details
46
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
has tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,200 seconds)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery power (260 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
38
good resolution (16MP)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography details
Pentax WG-2 Travel photography details
69
lighter than competition (198g)
features touch to focus
good MP (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
great zoom (480mm)
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery power (260 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
70
weather sealing
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography details
Pentax WG-2 Landscape photography details
44
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
no manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery power (260 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
47
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good resolution (16MP)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS30
Vlogging with Pentax WG-2
35
decently wide (24mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (198 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone jack
30
fairly wide (28mm)
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have microphone port
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax WG-2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30Pentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 Pentax Optio WG-2
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ40 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Announced 2013-01-07 2012-02-07
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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4896 x 3672 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1200 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.40 m 5.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 198g (0.44 lbs) 192g (0.42 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos 260 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $250 $350