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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-3

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
 
Pentax WG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
44
Overall
41

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-3 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
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ8
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
  • Revealed July 2013
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-3 Overview

Following is a in depth overview of the Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the ZS5 (12MP) and WG-3 (16MP) but they possess the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The ZS5 was unveiled 4 years before the WG-3 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the ZS5 grades against the WG-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Pentax WG-3

 ZS5 WG-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Panasonic ZS5

 WG-3 ZS5 
RevealedJuly 2013June 2010More modern by 37 months
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax WG-3

 ZS5 WG-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-3 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS5 provides outer dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-3 has specifications of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the ZS5 vs the WG-3.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS5 and WG-3 is 92 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizes only by checking technical specs. The image underneath will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS5 and WG-3.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Pentax WG-3 to give extra detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged ZS5 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Portrait photography info
Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography info
27
comes with face detection focus
manual focus not available
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
40
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Street photography info
Pentax WG-3 Street photography info
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (214 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS5
Sports photography with Pentax WG-3
31
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300 seconds)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (240 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS5
Travel photography with Pentax WG-3
63
lighter than competitors (214 grams)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
lack of Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
72
environment proofing
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery pack (240 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS5
Landscape photography with Pentax WG-3
33
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
53
focusing manually
relatively wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
environment proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
not so great battery pack (240 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS5
Vlogging with Pentax WG-3
31
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than competitors (214 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone socket
36
relatively wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly display
does not have external mic support
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Pentax WG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS5 and Pentax WG-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5Pentax WG-3
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 Pentax WG-3
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ8 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Revealed 2010-06-16 2013-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.30 m 3.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 214 gr (0.47 lbs) 230 gr (0.51 lbs)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" 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 - 240 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - 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 1 1
Price at release $300 $300