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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Comparison

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Panasonic ZS3

10 MP | 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) CCD Sensor

Panasonic ZS3
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Pentax WG-1 GPS

14 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

Pentax WG-1 GPS
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Panasonic ZS3, which was introduced in May 2009 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 10.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Pentax WG-1 GPS, which was introduced in August 2011 is a Waterproof camera with a 14.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. As you can see, ZS3 is 2 years older than WG-1 GPS. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax WG-1 GPS before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2009-05-14
  • 10MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 25-300 mm F3.3-4.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 2 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 229g. 103 x 60 x 33 mm
  • Also known as Lumix DMC-TZ7

Pentax WG-1 GPS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2011-08-16
  • 14MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 Zoom Lens
  • 2.7" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • Built-in GPS
  • 167g. 116 x 59 x 29 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax WG-1 GPS compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 over Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
Image Stabilization
Optical vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Number of Focus Points
11 vs 9 2 more focus points
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution
460k dots vs 230k dots 100% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/2000s vs 1/1500s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
2.0fps vs 1.0fps 1 fps faster
Focal Length - Wide
25mm vs 28mm 3 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
300mm vs 140mm 160 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
12× vs 5× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
3.30 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
4.90 vs 5.50 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
5.3m vs 3.9m 1.4m longer range


Reasons to choose Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS over Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
GPS
BuiltIn vs None track your location
Max Sensor Resolution
14 MP vs 10 MP 39% more pixels
Weight
167 g vs 229 g 62 g lighter
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 and Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Common Weaknesses of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 and Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder
None vs None No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" Small display
LCD Screen Resolution
460k dots vs 230k dots Low resolution screens
Continuous Shooting
2.0fps vs 1.0fps Slow shooting speeds
Manual Exposure
No vs No No manual exposure control
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax WG-1 GPS side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Panasonic ZS3 has external dimensions of 103 x 60 x 33 mm (4.06 x 2.36 x 1.3″) and weighs 229 g (0.50 lb / 8.08 oz) (including batteries). Pentax WG-1 GPS has external dimensions of 116 x 59 x 29 mm (4.55 x 2.3 x 1.12″) and weighs 167 g (0.37 lb / 5.89 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax WG-1 GPS. Pentax WG-1 GPS is 1mm shorter and 4mm thinner than Panasonic ZS3 but it is also 13mm wider.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax WG-1 GPS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax WG-1 GPS.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax WG-1 GPS Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax WG-1 GPS.
Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax WG-1 GPS Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Pentax WG-1 GPS is significantly lighter (62g ) than the Panasonic ZS3 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

ZS3
WG-1 GPS
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

ZS3
WG-1 GPS
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Panasonic ZS3's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Pentax WG-1 GPS's 2.7" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS: Sensor Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 has a 10.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor . On the other hand, Pentax WG-1 GPS has a 14.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Below you can see the ZS3 and WG-1 GPS sensor size comparison.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax WG-1 GPS Cameras


Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax WG-1 GPS have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Lens Specs Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 features a 25-300 mm F3.3-4.9 12× zoom lens whereas Pentax WG-1 GPS features a 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 5× zoom lens.

Panasonic ZS3 has 3mm wider coverage than the Pentax WG-1 GPS. At f3.30, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Panasonic ZS3 has 160mm longer reach than the Pentax WG-1 GPS. At f4.90, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

ZS3
WG-1 GPS
Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

ZS3
WG-1 GPS
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

ZS3
WG-1 GPS
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

ZS3
WG-1 GPS
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax WG-1 GPS Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax WG-1 GPS for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Panasonic ZS3 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Pentax WG-1 GPS for Portrait Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Manual Focus Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Pentax WG-1 GPS for Street Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 for Sports Photography

POOR

Pentax WG-1 GPS for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
11 Focus Points
300 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Manual Focus Mode
Environmental Sealings
140 mm Tele Lens
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1500s
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 260 shots
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Pentax WG-1 GPS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Compact Body
229g
12.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Compact Body
167g
Environmental Sealings
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Pentax WG-1 GPS for Landscape Photography

POOR
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Manual Focus Mode
Environmental Sealings
Built-in GPS
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax WG-1 GPS, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax WG-1 GPS scores compare:

Panasonic ZS3
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #342 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #996 out of 1223 in all Cameras
Pentax WG-1 GPS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #162 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #698 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Pentax WG-1 GPS is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Panasonic ZS3 in all criteria.
It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Panasonic ZS3
Panasonic ZS3
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Pentax WG-1 GPS
Pentax WG-1 GPS
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Pentax WG-1 GPS vs Panasonic ZS3 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Announced 2009-05-14 2011-08-16
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type CCD CCD
Size 1/2.3-inch 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 6.08 x 4.56 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 27.72mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Max Resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 80 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 11 9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 25-300 mm (12×) 28-140 mm (5×)
Max Aperture F3.3-4.9 F3.5-5.5
Macro Focus Range 3cm 1cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3" 2.7"
Resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/1500s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 3.90 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 2.0 fps 1.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720 1280 x 720
Video Formats AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 229g 167g
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm 116 x 59 x 29mm
Battery Life n/a 260 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
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