Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 vs Pentax Optio WG-1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2

65

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Light sensitivity (boost)
High ISO (boost)
6,400 ISO
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds
Pentax Optio W90

63

Reasons to buy the Pentax Optio W90

Light sensitivity
High ISO
6,400 ISO
Macro focus
Great macro
1 cm

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-TS2

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Aperture Wider aperture f/3.3 vs f/3.5
Help
At its widest zoom, the DMC-TS2's lens captures marginally more light (0.2 f-stops)
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Size Slightly smaller 99x63x24 mm vs 108x59x25 mm
Help
Around 10% smaller
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 4s
Help
15x longer exposures
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 1.8 fps vs 1.3 fps
Help
More than 40% faster continuous shooting
Thickness Slightly thinner 0.9" vs 1"
Help
Almost the same
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-TS2

Advantages of the Pentax W90

Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The W90's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Macro focus Significantly better macro capability 1 cm vs 5 cm
Help
Focus on subjects 5x closer to the lens
Weight Lighter 164 g vs 188 g
Help
More than 10% lighter
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Almost the same
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.1x4.6mm
Help
Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/1500s vs 1/1300s
Help
More than 10% faster max shutter speed
Pentax Optio W90 Learn more about
the Pentax W90
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent waterproof cameras, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2
65 vs 63
Explain scores
Pentax Optio W90 Pentax Optio W90
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Panasonic DMC-TS2 or the Pentax W90,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Waterproof Waterproof Help
Great at the beach
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
DMC-TS2:1/1300s
W90:1/1500s
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen size Very small screens Help
2.7"
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
DMC-TS2:1.8 fps
W90:1.3 fps
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps
Wide angle Poor wide angle Help
28 mm
Zoom Poor zoom Help
DMC-TS2:4.6x
W90:5x

Compared to recent waterproof cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

GPS No built-in GPS Help
Missing geo-tagging
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus Stylus Tough 8010

Olympus Stylus Tough 8010

Waterproof

$155 - $165

Fastest shutter speed Has a faster max shutter speed
Weight Is significantly heavier
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5

Waterproof

$248 - $332

Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Nikon Coolpix AW100

Nikon Coolpix AW100

Waterproof

$280

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Aperture Has a significantly narrower aperture
Pentax Optio WG-2

Pentax Optio WG-2

Waterproof

$324

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot D10

Canon PowerShot D10

Waterproof

$248 - $319

Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Fastest shutter speed Has a faster max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Olympus TG-620

Olympus TG-620

Waterproof

$305 - $324

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Aperture Has a significantly narrower aperture
Olympus TG-310

Olympus TG310

Waterproof

$132

Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

Waterproof

Movie format Higher resolution movies
GPS Has a GPS
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4

Panasonic Lumix TS4

Waterproof

$274 - $400

Movie format Higher resolution movies
3D Takes 3D photos
Size Larger
True resolution Lower true resolution
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20

Panasonic Lumix TS20

Waterproof

$169

Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
3D Takes 3D photos
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
True resolution Lower true resolution

Pentax Optio W90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Pentax Optio WG-1

Pentax Optio WG-1

Waterproof

$244 - $264

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Size Larger
Olympus Stylus Tough 6020

Olympus Stylus Tough 6020

Waterproof

$179

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Size Smaller
Aperture Narrower aperture
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Pentax Optio W80

Pentax Optio W80

Waterproof

Size Smaller
Weight Slightly lighter
Screen size Smaller screen
True resolution Slightly lower true resolution
Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS

Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS

Waterproof

Image stabilization Image stabilization
GPS Has a GPS
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Size Larger

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 Pentax Optio W90
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 Pentax Optio W90
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 Pentax Optio W90

discussion

Showing 4 comments

Saltyseagull (6:59 PM, August 02, 2010)
Oh sorry, I should have said that digital zoom is available in both movie modes for the pentax optio w90, but not optical zoom. And I wouldn't use it anyhow as it just gets horribly grainy looking. Digital zoom is no zoom at all really.
 
Saltyseagull (6:18 PM, August 02, 2010)
I just checked mine, the pentax optio w90 does not zoom in underwater movie mode. the digital zoom is available in the out of water mode, but it looks terrible, as digital zooms will do. Disappointing, but true. Maybe the TS2 will do it.
 
Avatar for peterhansen2 peterhansen2 (2:57 PM, March 27, 2010)
Hi,

i relly like both cameras. Right now i have the problem wich one to buy... Both seem to be very nice and i like the "Marco Led Ring" of the Optio W90 a lot, but the Lumix TS2 also has a few nice features like image stabilisation, higher "rugged"-factor etc...

Wich one would you suggest if it's not about the money, and why?
Has anybody figure out if the Pentax can zoom while shooting a movie?

Can't wait to get my hands on one of these beauties...
 
Avatar for christopherreid christopherreid (0:42 AM, March 26, 2010)
The W90 replaces the Optio W80 and although the comparison doesn't show it there are some differences in these waterproof digital cameras. The W90 is waterproof to 20 feet underwater, will withstand drops of 4 feet and is cold-resistant to -10 Celsius or 14 Fahrenheit . Like the Pentax X90 the W90 gets 32 person face detection and software based image stabilization for movies and photos. I wonder if the Eye-Fi would work well underwater - I'll have to try that out if I can get my hands on one of these. HD Video underwater has got to be cool also.

The TS2 provides optical image stabilization, and says it can be droped from 2m - 6ft and will go down 10m or 33ft. I'm not entirely sure if the Pentax will zoom while shooting video but the Panasonic will and in case the shark doesn't eat you while shooting underwater it would be nice to zoom in as he swims away.

Either way I gotta try out one of these waterproof cameras this summer.