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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung HZ30W

Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS front
 
Samsung HZ30W front
Portability
91
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung HZ30W Key Specs

Pentax WG-2 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 198g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Launched February 2012
Samsung HZ30W
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-360mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 245g - 107 x 61 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Alternate Name is WB600
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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung HZ30W Overview

Its time to look closer at the Pentax WG-2 GPS and Samsung HZ30W, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Pentax and Samsung. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the WG-2 GPS (16MP) and HZ30W (12MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The WG-2 GPS was unveiled 2 years after the HZ30W which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a full comparison, below is a quick summation of how the WG-2 GPS matches up vs the HZ30W with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 GPS over the Samsung HZ30W

 WG-2 GPS HZ30W 
IntroducedFebruary 2012January 2010Newer by 25 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ30W over the Pentax WG-2 GPS

 HZ30W WG-2 GPS 

Common features in the Pentax WG-2 GPS and Samsung HZ30W

 WG-2 GPS HZ30W 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung HZ30W Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Pentax WG-2 GPS offers exterior measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) while the Samsung HZ30W has specifications of 107mm x 61mm x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax WG-2 GPS and Samsung HZ30W in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the WG-2 GPS compared to the HZ30W.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung HZ30W size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the WG-2 GPS and HZ30W is 91 and 91 respectively.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung HZ30W top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung HZ30W Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to picture the difference in sensor dimensions just by viewing a spec sheet. The pic here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-2 GPS and HZ30W.

Clearly, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Pentax WG-2 GPS to result in extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The younger WG-2 GPS should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung HZ30W sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung HZ30W Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung HZ30W Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax WG-2 GPS
Portrait photography with Samsung HZ30W
40
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
supports face detection focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
28
you can focus manually
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Street photography camera
Samsung HZ30W as a Street photography camera
54
weather sealing
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (245 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax WG-2 GPS
Sports photography with Samsung HZ30W
38
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
42
excellent zoom range (24-360mm 15.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Travel photography advice
Samsung HZ30W Travel photography advice
70
weather sealing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
63
lighter than others (245 grams)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
long zoom (360mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Landscape photography advice
Samsung HZ30W Landscape photography advice
47
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
megapixel count good (16MP)
weather sealing
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
42
you can focus manually
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS Vlogging highlights
Samsung HZ30W Vlogging highlights
30
relatively wide (28mm)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have external microphone support
30
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (245g)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic jack
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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Samsung HZ30W Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-2 GPS and Samsung HZ30W
 Pentax Optio WG-2 GPSSamsung HZ30W
General Information
Company Pentax Samsung
Model Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS Samsung HZ30W
Also referred to as - WB600
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-02-07 2010-01-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-360mm (15.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 16 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.40 m 5.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
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 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 198g (0.44 lbs) 245g (0.54 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") 107 x 61 x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI92 SLB-11A
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double, Motion)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SC/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $300 $280