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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax WG-3

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
55
Overall
46
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
 
Pentax WG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax WG-3 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Released January 2015
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS40
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS50
Pentax WG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Launched July 2013
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax WG-3 Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax WG-3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Waterproof by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the ZS45 (16MP) and the WG-3 (16MP) is very close and they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The ZS45 was unveiled 18 months later than the WG-3 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the ZS45 grades vs the WG-3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Pentax WG-3

 ZS45 WG-3 
LaunchedJanuary 2015July 2013More recent by 18 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k460kClearer display (+580k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Panasonic ZS45

 WG-3 ZS45 
Manually focus More accurate focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax WG-3

 ZS45 WG-3 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax WG-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS45 has outside measurements of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-3 has proportions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax WG-3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the ZS45 vs the WG-3.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax WG-3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS45 and WG-3 is 91 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax WG-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax WG-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to see the difference in sensor measurements merely by viewing technical specs. The photograph underneath should give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS45 and WG-3.

As you can tell, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the identical megapixels therefore you can expect comparable quality of photographs although you should really consider the launch date of the cameras into account. The more recent ZS45 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax WG-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS45
Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3
37
good megapixels (16MP)
offers face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
41
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Street photography information
Pentax WG-3 Street photography information
69
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (249g)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS45
Sports photography with Pentax WG-3
56
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
good battery life (350 per charge)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
45
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (240 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography info
Pentax WG-3 Travel photography info
71
good battery life (350 CIPA)
lighter than average (249g)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
72
weather proofing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
low battery (240 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS45
Landscape photography with Pentax WG-3
48
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good battery life (350 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
54
manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery (240 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS45
Vlogging with Pentax WG-3
34
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (249g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone port
36
fairly wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax WG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax WG-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45Pentax WG-3
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 Pentax WG-3
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ57 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Released 2015-01-06 2013-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 21 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-480mm (20.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 3.40 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 249 grams (0.55 pounds) 230 grams (0.51 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 240 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $300 $300