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Canon G12 vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
83
Imaging
34
Features
50
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot G12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33

Canon G12 vs Panasonic ZS5 Key Specs

Canon G12
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 401g - 112 x 76 x 48mm
  • Announced January 2011
  • Earlier Model is Canon G11
  • Replacement is Canon G15
Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ8
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Canon G12 vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

The following is a detailed assessment of the Canon G12 vs Panasonic ZS5, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the G12 (10MP) and the ZS5 (12MP) is fairly close but the G12 (1/1.7") and ZS5 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizes.

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The G12 was brought out 8 months after the ZS5 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the G12 scores versus the ZS5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon G12 over the Panasonic ZS5

 G12 ZS5 
ReleasedJanuary 2011June 2010Newer by 8 months
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions2.8"2.7"Larger display (+0.1")
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Canon G12

 ZS5 G12 

Common features in the Canon G12 and Panasonic ZS5

 G12 ZS5 
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Canon G12 vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Canon G12 comes with physical measurements of 112mm x 76mm x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") along with a weight of 401 grams (0.88 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS5 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Look at the Canon G12 vs Panasonic ZS5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the G12 and the ZS5.

Canon G12 vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the G12 and ZS5 is 83 and 92 respectively.

Canon G12 vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison

Canon G12 vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions merely by looking through specifications. The pic underneath will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the G12 and ZS5.

To sum up, both of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The G12 featuring a larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic ZS5 will render more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics more aggressively. The newer G12 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Canon G12 vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison

Canon G12 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G12 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon G12 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS5 Portrait photography features
47
focusing manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000s)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
27
provides face detection focusing
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon G12
Street photography with Panasonic ZS5
64
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
heavier than competition in class (401 grams)
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (214g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon G12 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography information
33
image stabilization (Optical)
better than average battery life (370 CIPA)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
no phase detect autofocus
31
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300s)
max fps very slow (2.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon G12
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS5
60
better than average battery life (370 per charge)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
reasonably wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (401 grams)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
63
lighter than competitors (214 grams)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
missing Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon G12 Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography features
49
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (2.8 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (370 CIPA)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
lack of Time Lapse recording
33
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon G12 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging highlights
60
reasonably wide (28mm)
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic port
heavier than competition in class (401g)
31
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
lighter than competitors (214g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone support
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Canon G12 vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G12 and Panasonic ZS5
 Canon PowerShot G12Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ8
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-01-19 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-4.5 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.8 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 461k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/2000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 401g (0.88 lb) 214g (0.47 lb)
Physical dimensions 112 x 76 x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 47 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 161 not tested
Other
Battery life 370 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-7L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $600 $300