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Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74
Nikon Z50 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50

Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic GF5 Key Specs

Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Revealed October 2019
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
  • Announced April 2012
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF3
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF6
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Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

Following is a thorough comparison of the Nikon Z50 and Panasonic GF5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Nikon and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the Z50 (21MP) and GF5 (12MP) and the Z50 (APS-C) and GF5 (Four Thirds) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The Z50 was announced 7 years after the GF5 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon Z50 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple view of how the Z50 scores vs the GF5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Panasonic GF5

 Z50 GF5 
AnnouncedOctober 2019April 2012More modern by 92 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1040k920kClearer display (+120k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Nikon Z50

 GF5 Z50 

Common features in the Nikon Z50 and Panasonic GF5

 Z50 GF5 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Touch display Easily navigate

Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Nikon Z50 offers outer measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") along with a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF5 has dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon Z50 and Panasonic GF5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the Z50 and the GF5.

Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the Z50 and GF5 is 74 and 89 respectively.

Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to see the gap in sensor sizes just by seeing technical specs. The pic below may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the Z50 and GF5.

As you can tell, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The Z50 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Nikon Z50 will produce greater detail with its extra 9 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The younger Z50 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z50 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography highlights
80
manual focus
decent MP (21MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW files
55
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon Z50
Street photography with Panasonic GF5
73
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
features focus by touch
environment proof
good ISO range (51,200)
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (397g)
70
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
features touch to focus
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z50 Sports photography details
Panasonic GF5 Sports photography details
75
decent MP (21MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
no image stabilization
40
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z50 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GF5 Travel photography advice
77
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
features focus by touch
decent MP (21MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
more heavy than competition in class (397 grams)
61
features touch to focus
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z50 Landscape photography info
Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography info
79
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen size is decent (3.2")
decent MP (21MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment proof
no image stabilization
59
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z50 Vlogging features
Panasonic GF5 Vlogging features
71
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
comes with face detect focusing
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with microphone jack
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (397g)
32
has touchscreen
has face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
lack of mic support
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Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z50 and Panasonic GF5
 Nikon Z50Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Company Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Z50 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2019-10-10 2012-04-05
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 6 Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5568 x 3712 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 51200 12800
Highest boosted ISO 204800 -
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 209 23
Lens
Lens mount Nikon Z Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 15 107
Crop factor 1.5 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.2 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 11.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.30 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 397g (0.88 pounds) 267g (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 50
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.0
DXO Low light score not tested 573
Other
Battery life 320 images 360 images
Type of battery Built-in Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL25 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $857 $600