Clicky

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GM5

Portability
93
Imaging
44
Features
60
Overall
50
Nikon 1 S2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 front
Portability
91
Imaging
53
Features
62
Overall
56

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GM5 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
  • Revealed May 2014
  • Superseded the Nikon 1 S1
Panasonic GM5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 211g - 99 x 60 x 36mm
  • Released September 2014
  • Old Model is Panasonic GM1
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GM5 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Nikon 1 S2 and Panasonic GM5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Nikon and Panasonic. The resolution of the 1 S2 (14.2MP) and the GM5 (16MP) is pretty similar but the 1 S2 (1") and GM5 (Four Thirds) use different sensor dimensions.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The 1 S2 was unveiled 3 months before the GM5 and they are of a similar age. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a concise view of how the 1 S2 matches up vs the GM5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon 1 S2 over the Panasonic GM5

 1 S2 GM5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GM5 over the Nikon 1 S2

 GM5 1 S2 
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon 1 S2 and Panasonic GM5

 1 S2 GM5 
ReleasedMay 2014September 2014Similar age
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GM5 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Nikon 1 S2 features physical dimensions of 101mm x 61mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GM5 has measurements of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs).

Check out the Nikon 1 S2 and Panasonic GM5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the 1 S2 versus the GM5.

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GM5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 1 S2 and GM5 is 93 and 91 respectively.

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GM5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GM5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizes only by going over a spec sheet. The pic underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 S2 and GM5.

Clearly, both of those cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The 1 S2 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh more challenging and the Panasonic GM5 will offer you more detail having an extra 1.8MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively.

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GM5 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GM5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GM5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 S2 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic GM5 Portrait photography advice
59
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14.2MP)
sensor size is good (1")
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
71
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
saves RAW files
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Nikon 1 S2 Street photography factors
Panasonic GM5 Street photography factors
70
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (190g)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
76
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
provides touch to focus
lighter than competitors in class (211g)
great ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon 1 S2
Sports photography with Panasonic GM5
59
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
max fps high (60.0 frames per second)
decent sensor resolution (14.2 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
supports tracking focus
has phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
bad battery (270 CIPA)
48
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/500s)
slow fps (5.8 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery (220 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 S2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GM5 as a Travel photography camera
66
lighter than competitors in class (190 grams)
decent sensor resolution (14.2MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery (270 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
lighter than competitors in class (211 grams)
provides touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
terrible battery (220 per charge)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 S2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GM5 as a Landscape photography camera
60
has manual focus
change lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (14.2MP)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
bad battery (270 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
69
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery (220 shots)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 S2 Vlogging details
Panasonic GM5 Vlogging details
33
supports face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (190 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have mic socket
34
touch screen
supports face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (211g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have mic support
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic GM5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 S2 and Panasonic GM5
 Nikon 1 S2Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon 1 S2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2014-05-21 2014-09-15
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 4A Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 13.1 x 8.8mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 115.3mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14.2MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3072 4592 x 3448
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW files
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 171 23
Cross focus points 73 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon 1 Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 13 107
Crop factor 2.7 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/500 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs 1/16000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 60.0fps 5.8fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash modes Fill, fill w/slow sync, rear curtain sync, rear curtain w/ slow sync, redeye reduction, redeye reduction w/slow sync, off Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 190 gr (0.42 lb) 211 gr (0.47 lb)
Dimensions 101 x 61 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1") 99 x 60 x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.7
DXO Low light score not tested 721
Other
Battery life 270 photos 220 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL22 DMW-BLH7
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage type microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $450 $966