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Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
93
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51
Nikon 1 S2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
49
Features
54
Overall
51

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GF5 Key Specs

Nikon 1 S2
(Full Review)
  • 14.2MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 190g - 101 x 61 x 29mm
  • Announced May 2014
  • Older Model is Nikon 1 S1
Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GF3
  • Successor is Panasonic GF6
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Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GF5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. The resolution of the 1 S2 (14.2MP) and the GF5 (12MP) is fairly close but the 1 S2 (1") and GF5 (Four Thirds) provide different sensor sizes.

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The 1 S2 was manufactured 2 years after the GF5 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the 1 S2 matches up vs the GF5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 S2 over the Panasonic GF5

 1 S2 GF5 
IntroducedMay 2014April 2012Newer by 26 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Nikon 1 S2

 GF5 1 S2 
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon 1 S2 and Panasonic GF5

 1 S2 GF5 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon 1 S2 offers external dimensions of 101mm x 61mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF5 has sizing of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GF5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the 1 S2 against the GF5.

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the 1 S2 and GF5 is 93 and 89 respectively.

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions just by looking through technical specs. The image below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 S2 and GF5.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The 1 S2 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Nikon 1 S2 will result in greater detail due to its extra 2.2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The younger 1 S2 provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 S2 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography highlights
60
manual focus
MP count decent (14.2MP)
decent sensor size (1")
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
56
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 S2 Street photography details
Panasonic GF5 Street photography details
71
decent sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
lighter than average (190 grams)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
70
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
has focus via touch
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon 1 S2
Sports photography with Panasonic GF5
60
silent mode (1/16,000s)
high max frames per second (60.0 fps)
MP count decent (14.2 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
includes tracking focus
supports phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery pack (270 per charge)
41
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 S2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Travel photography camera
66
lighter than average (190 grams)
MP count decent (14.2MP)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (270 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
61
has focus via touch
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 S2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Landscape photography camera
60
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
MP count decent (14.2 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery pack (270 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
59
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 S2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Vlogging camera
33
includes face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (190g)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
does not have mic jack
32
screen is touchscreen
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing mic port
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Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 S2 and Panasonic GF5
 Nikon 1 S2Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon 1 S2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2014-05-21 2012-04-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 4A Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 13.1 x 8.8mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 115.3mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14.2MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4592 x 3072 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 160
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 171 23
Cross type focus points 73 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon 1 Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 13 107
Crop factor 2.7 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter speed 60.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 6.30 m
Flash settings Fill, fill w/slow sync, rear curtain sync, rear curtain w/ slow sync, redeye reduction, redeye reduction w/slow sync, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 190 gr (0.42 lbs) 267 gr (0.59 lbs)
Physical dimensions 101 x 61 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 50
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 573
Other
Battery life 270 photographs 360 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL22 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage media microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $450 $600