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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Launched January 2015
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS45
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS60
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
  • Announced February 2012
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax WG-2, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Waterproof by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the ZS50 (12MP) and WG-2 (16MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The ZS50 was released 2 years after the WG-2 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the ZS50 scores vs the WG-2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Pentax WG-2

 ZS50 WG-2 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015February 2012More modern by 36 months
Screen resolution1040k460kClearer screen (+580k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Panasonic ZS50

 WG-2 ZS50 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax WG-2

 ZS50 WG-2 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS50 comes with outer dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-2 has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax WG-2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the ZS50 compared to the WG-2.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the ZS50 and WG-2 is 90 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reading through technical specs. The image underneath will give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS50 and WG-2.

As you can tell, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Pentax WG-2 to resolve extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more recent ZS50 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography factors
Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography factors
42
you can focus manually
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
40
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 as a Street photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Street photography camera
68
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors (243 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
54
environment sealing
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Sports photography info
Pentax WG-2 Sports photography info
43
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
38
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Travel photography information
Pentax WG-2 Travel photography information
66
lighter than competitors (243 grams)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
70
environment sealing
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Landscape photography camera
51
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
47
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Vlogging factors
Pentax WG-2 Vlogging factors
34
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (243 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
30
decently wide (28mm)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have external microphone port
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax WG-2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50Pentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 Pentax Optio WG-2
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ70 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Launched 2015-01-06 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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 5.40 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
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video 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 None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 243 grams (0.54 lb) 192 grams (0.42 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 44 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 138 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots 260 shots
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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $350 $350