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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Key Specs

Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Introduced July 2011
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS7
Pentax WG-2 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 198g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Revealed February 2012
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Overview

In this article, we will be contrasting the Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the ZS8 (14MP) and the WG-2 GPS (16MP) is relatively comparable and they feature the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The ZS8 was announced 6 months earlier than the WG-2 GPS which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the ZS8 scores vs the WG-2 GPS for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Pentax WG-2 GPS

 ZS8 WG-2 GPS 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 GPS over the Panasonic ZS8

 WG-2 GPS ZS8 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax WG-2 GPS

 ZS8 WG-2 GPS 
RevealedJuly 2011February 2012Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS8 features physical measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs) while the Pentax WG-2 GPS has specifications of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the ZS8 against the WG-2 GPS.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS8 and WG-2 GPS is 92 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizing only by seeing specs. The graphic below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS8 and WG-2 GPS.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Pentax WG-2 GPS to provide greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots far more aggressively.

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Portrait photography information
Pentax WG-2 GPS Portrait photography information
30
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
40
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Street photography information
Pentax WG-2 GPS Street photography information
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (210g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
54
environment proofing
fixed screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS8
Sports photography with Pentax WG-2 GPS
47
amazing zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
38
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than others (210 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
long reach (384mm)
no Time Lapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
70
environment proofing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography details
Pentax WG-2 GPS Landscape photography details
44
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
47
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging details
Pentax WG-2 GPS Vlogging details
30
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (210g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
30
really wide (28mm)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
no external mic port
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Panasonic ZS8 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS8 and Pentax WG-2 GPS
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ18 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Introduced 2011-07-19 2012-02-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD -
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 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-384mm (16.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT LCD Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 5.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro 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 1280 x 720 (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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 210 gr (0.46 lb) 198 gr (0.44 lb)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
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 340 pictures 260 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $275 $300