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Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
62
Imaging
76
Features
86
Overall
80
Nikon Z5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic FS12 Key Specs

Nikon Z5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 675g - 134 x 101 x 70mm
  • Introduced July 2020
Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Introduced April 2009
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Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Nikon Z5 and Panasonic FS12, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Ultracompact by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the Z5 (24MP) and FS12 (12MP) and the Z5 (Full frame) and FS12 (1/2.3") offer different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The Z5 was launched 11 years after the FS12 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Nikon Z5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summation of how the Z5 grades versus the FS12 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z5 over the Panasonic FS12

 Z5 FS12 
IntroducedJuly 2020April 2009More modern by 138 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1040k230kCrisper display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Nikon Z5

 FS12 Z5 

Common features in the Nikon Z5 and Panasonic FS12

 Z5 FS12 
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Nikon Z5 comes with external measurements of 134mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") with a weight of 675 grams (1.49 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FS12 has dimensions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Examine the Nikon Z5 and Panasonic FS12 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the Z5 compared to the FS12.

Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the Z5 and FS12 is 62 and 95 respectively.

Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizes simply by checking specs. The image underneath might give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the Z5 and FS12.

All in all, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The Z5 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Nikon Z5 will resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 12MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The newer Z5 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z5 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography advice
85
you can focus manually
good resolution (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW files
21
no manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z5 Street photography information
Panasonic FS12 Street photography information
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
supports touch to focus
weather proofing
great ISO range (51,200)
more heavy than competitors (675g)
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z5 Sports photography factors
Panasonic FS12 Sports photography factors
82
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
weather proofing
better than average battery power (470 per charge)
supports phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (4.5 fps)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z5 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FS12 Travel photography highlights
68
better than average battery power (470 per charge)
weather proofing
has bluetooth
supports touch to focus
good resolution (24 megapixels)
more heavy than competitors (675g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
51
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z5 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Landscape photography camera
86
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
great ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
better than average battery power (470 per charge)
2 card slots
28
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z5 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic FS12 Vlogging highlights
34
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with microphone support
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
more heavy than competitors (675g)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
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Nikon Z5 vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z5 and Panasonic FS12
 Nikon Z5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Z5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Class Advanced Mirrorless Ultracompact
Introduced 2020-07-20 2009-04-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 6 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 23.9mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 858.0mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6016 x 4016 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 51200 1600
Highest boosted ISO 102400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 273 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon Z fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 31-124mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 15 -
Focal length multiplier 1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.2 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 3,690 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.8x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.5 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.30 m
Flash settings Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 675 gr (1.49 lbs) 129 gr (0.28 lbs)
Physical dimensions 134 x 101 x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 470 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL15c -
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Two One
Retail cost $1,399 $228