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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Panasonic ZS40 Comparison

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Camera to replace
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Pentax WG-2 GPS

16 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Pentax WG-2 GPS
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Panasonic ZS40

18 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Sensor

Panasonic ZS40
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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Panasonic ZS40 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Pentax WG-2 GPS, which was introduced in February 2012 is a Waterproof camera with a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Panasonic ZS40, which was introduced in January 2014 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 18.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. There is 23 months difference between WG-2 GPS and ZS40 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger ZS40, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Pentax WG-2 GPS and Panasonic ZS40 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Pentax WG-2 GPS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-02-07
  • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 Zoom Lens
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in GPS
  • 198g. 122 x 61 x 30 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-01-06
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 3200 ( expands to 6400)
  • 24-720 mm F3.3-6.4 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 200k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • Built-in GPS
  • 240g. 111 x 64 x 34 mm
  • Also known as Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Replaced Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS35 Compare

Panasonic ZS40 was replaced by Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 (Lumix DMC-TZ60)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 vs Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Pentax WG-2 GPS and Panasonic ZS40 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS over Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Max ISO
6.400 vs 3.200 100% higher Max ISO
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Weight
198 g vs 240 g 42 g lighter
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Max Aperture - Tele
5.50 vs 6.40 faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area
2.04µm2 vs 1.56µm2 30% larger pixel area
CHECK WG-2 GPS PRICE


Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 over Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs Eye-Fi Connected Better connectivity
In-built Image Stabilization
Optical vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Sensor Resolution
18 MP vs 16 MP 12% more pixels
Number of Focus Points
23 vs 9 14 more focus points
LCD Resolution
920k dots vs 460k dots 100% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 1.0fps 9 fps faster
Battery Life
300 shots vs 260 shots 40 more frames with a single charge
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 28mm 4 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
720mm vs 140mm 580 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
30× vs 5× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
3.30 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Flash Coverage
6.4m vs 5.4m 1m longer range
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
CHECK ZS40 PRICE

Common Strengths of Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
GPS
Built-in vs Built-in track your location
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Common Weaknesses of Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Panasonic ZS40: 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 Pentax WG-2 GPS and Panasonic ZS40 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Pentax WG-2 GPS has external dimensions of 122 x 61 x 30 mm (4.8 x 2.4 x 1.18″) and weighs 198 g (0.44 lb / 6.98 oz) (including batteries). Panasonic ZS40 has external dimensions of 111 x 64 x 34 mm (4.37 x 2.52 x 1.34″) and weighs 240 g (0.53 lb / 8.47 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Pentax WG-2 GPS and Panasonic ZS40. Pentax WG-2 GPS is 3mm shorter and 4mm thinner than Panasonic ZS40 but it is also 11mm wider.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Panasonic ZS40 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Pentax WG-2 GPS and Panasonic ZS40 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Pentax WG-2 GPS and Panasonic ZS40.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Panasonic ZS40 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Pentax WG-2 GPS and Panasonic ZS40 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Pentax WG-2 GPS and Panasonic ZS40.
Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Panasonic ZS40 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Pentax WG-2 GPS and Panasonic ZS40 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Pentax WG-2 GPS is significantly lighter (42g ) than the Panasonic ZS40 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

WG-2 GPS
ZS40
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

WG-2 GPS
ZS40
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Pentax WG-2 GPS and Panasonic ZS40's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.00".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Panasonic ZS40: Sensor Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Panasonic ZS40 has a 18.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine processor.

Below you can see the WG-2 GPS and ZS40 sensor size comparison.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Pentax WG-2 GPS and Panasonic ZS40 Cameras


Pentax WG-2 GPS and Panasonic ZS40 have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Pentax WG-2 GPS has 30% larger pixel area compared to Panasonic ZS40, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Panasonic ZS40 Lens Specs Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS features a 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 5× zoom lens whereas Panasonic ZS40 features a 24-720 mm F3.3-6.4 30× zoom lens.

Panasonic ZS40 has 4mm wider coverage than the Pentax WG-2 GPS. At f3.30, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Panasonic ZS40 has 580mm longer telezoom reach than the Pentax WG-2 GPS. However, with a max aperture of f5.50, Pentax WG-2 GPS is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

WG-2 GPS
ZS40
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

WG-2 GPS
ZS40
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

WG-2 GPS
ZS40
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

WG-2 GPS
ZS40
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Pentax WG-2 GPS and Panasonic ZS40 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Pentax WG-2 GPS and Panasonic ZS40 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.

Pentax WG-2 GPS for Portrait Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS40 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Manual Focus Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
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
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Pentax WG-2 GPS for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic ZS40 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
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
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Read the details

Pentax WG-2 GPS for Sports Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS40 for Sports Photography

POOR
Manual Focus Mode
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
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
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 260 shots
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
23 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
720 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.40
Read the details

Pentax WG-2 GPS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic ZS40 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Compact Body
Environmental Sealings
198g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
240g
30.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Read the details

Pentax WG-2 GPS for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS40 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Manual Focus Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Environmental Sealings
Built-in GPS
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Built-in GPS
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Panasonic ZS40: 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 Pentax WG-2 GPS and Panasonic ZS40, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 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 Pentax WG-2 GPS and Panasonic ZS40 scores compare:

Pentax WG-2 GPS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #100 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #603 out of 1244 in all Cameras
Panasonic ZS40
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #37 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #447 out of 1244 in all Cameras

Panasonic ZS40 has a higher Overall Score thanks to its better image quality and more features compared to Pentax WG-2 GPS. On the other hand the Pentax WG-2 GPS beats Panasonic ZS40 in two significant areas: Value for Money and Compactness.
If you are a price conscious buyer and looking for a small and relatively low priced camera where you can take everywhere with you, Pentax WG-2 GPS is the right choice for you.
If you are after the better photographic performance with all the advanced features, definitely get the Panasonic ZS40

Pentax WG-2 GPS
Pentax WG-2 GPS
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Panasonic ZS40
Panasonic ZS40
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Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Brand Pentax Panasonic
Announced 2012-02-07 2014-01-06
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size 1/2.3-inch 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 28.07mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Max Resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 3,200 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 6400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 125 ISO 100 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 9 23
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 28-140 mm (5×) 24-720 mm (30×)
Max Aperture F3.5-5.5 F3.3-6.4
Macro Focus Range 1cm 3cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 460k dots 920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder 200k dots
Viewfinder Coverage n/a 100%
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization No Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 5.40 m 6.40 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps 10.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 198g 240g
Dimensions 122 x 61 x 30mm 111 x 64 x 34mm
Battery Life 260 shots 300 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Built-in Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
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