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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ8
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
  • Introduced February 2012
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax WG-2, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Waterproof by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the ZS5 (12MP) and WG-2 (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The ZS5 was unveiled 20 months before the WG-2 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a quick overview of how the ZS5 scores vs the WG-2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Pentax WG-2

 ZS5 WG-2 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Panasonic ZS5

 WG-2 ZS5 
IntroducedFebruary 2012June 2010Newer by 20 months
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax WG-2

 ZS5 WG-2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS5 enjoys outer measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Pentax WG-2 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax WG-2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the ZS5 vs the WG-2.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS5 and WG-2 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by seeing specs. The picture below will provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS5 and WG-2.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should expect the Pentax WG-2 to show extra detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged ZS5 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography highlights
27
features face detection focus
no manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
40
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
features face detection autofocus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Street photography information
Pentax WG-2 Street photography information
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (214g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
54
weather proof
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS5
Sports photography with Pentax WG-2
31
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300s)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
38
good megapixels (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS5
Travel photography with Pentax WG-2
63
lighter than competitors (214 grams)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
70
weather proof
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography features
Pentax WG-2 Landscape photography features
33
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
47
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good megapixels (16MP)
weather proof
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging details
Pentax WG-2 Vlogging details
31
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
lighter than competitors (214g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic support
30
decently wide (28mm)
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing external microphone port
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax WG-2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5Pentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 Pentax Optio WG-2
Also called as Lumix DMC-TZ8 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Announced 2010-06-16 2012-02-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 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
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1300 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.30 m 5.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 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), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 214 grams (0.47 lbs) 192 grams (0.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
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 pictures
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $300 $350