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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-3

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
 
Pentax WG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-3 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS45
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS60
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 ZS50 vs Pentax WG-3 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Panasonic ZS50 versus Pentax WG-3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Waterproof by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the ZS50 (12MP) and WG-3 (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The ZS50 was manufactured 18 months later than the WG-3 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the ZS50 grades vs the WG-3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Pentax WG-3

 ZS50 WG-3 
LaunchedJanuary 2015July 2013More recent by 18 months
Display resolution1040k460kCrisper display (+580k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Panasonic ZS50

 WG-3 ZS50 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax WG-3

 ZS50 WG-3 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS50 provides external dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Pentax WG-3 has dimensions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS50 versus Pentax WG-3 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 dependant on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the ZS50 compared to the WG-3.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the ZS50 and WG-3 is 90 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to envision the gap in sensor measurements only by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph below will give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS50 and WG-3.

As you can see, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Pentax WG-3 to result in extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The younger ZS50 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography advice
Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography advice
42
manual focus
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
no external flash support
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
41
you can focus manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
supports face detect autofocus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Street photography information
Pentax WG-3 Street photography information
68
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than average in class (243g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-3 as a Sports photography camera
43
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (240 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS50
Travel photography with Pentax WG-3
66
lighter than average in class (243g)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
72
weather sealing
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery pack (240 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
51
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
54
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
not so great battery pack (240 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Vlogging details
Pentax WG-3 Vlogging details
34
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (243g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone socket
36
rather wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing mic jack
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax WG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax WG-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50Pentax WG-3
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 Pentax WG-3
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ70 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Announced 2015-01-06 2013-07-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,166k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.40 m 3.40 m
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 243g (0.54 lb) 230g (0.51 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 44 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 138 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots 240 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $350 $300