Panasonic GH5S vs. ZS70: A Hands-On Comprehensive Comparison for Discerning Photographers

When searching for a camera that fits your photography style, understanding the real-world distinctions between models is critical. Panasonic’s Lumix GH5S and ZS70 represent two very different design philosophies tailored to different needs. The GH5S is a professional-grade mirrorless Micro Four Thirds camera focused on video and low-light performance. The ZS70, also known as the Lumix DMC-TZ90, is a compact superzoom designed to offer versatility and convenience in a pocketable form.

In this in-depth comparison, I draw from my experience personally testing thousands of cameras to help you determine which model best suits your ambitions and shooting demands. Rather than dilute the discussion with marketing fluff, we’ll dig into sensor technology, autofocus systems, build quality, usability, photographic disciplines, and video features - all grounded in practical, side-by-side performance insights.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Design Philosophy

The Panasonic GH5S and ZS70 couldn’t be more different physically and ergonomically. The GH5S is a hefty, robust camera aimed at pros who often work with external rigs and lenses. The ZS70 slides easily into a jacket pocket or purse - a true grab-and-go tool.

You’ll notice the GH5S body measures 139 x 98 x 87 mm and weighs 660g, featuring a traditional SLR-style mirrorless design with deep handgrip for secure, balanced hold. In contrast, the ZS70’s compact size of just 112 x 67 x 41 mm and 322g weight make it extremely portable but at the cost of some control comfort and durability.

Both cameras feature fully articulated or tilting screens with touchscreen capabilities for flexibility in composing shots from tricky angles or selfies, but we'll explore those in detail below.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

At the core of any camera, the sensor defines basic image potential. This pair lives at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of sensor size and resolution.

• Panasonic GH5S: Equipped with a Four Thirds 17.3 x 13 mm CMOS sensor - the same size standard common in Micro Four Thirds systems - with a resolution of 10MP. Despite the lower megapixel count relative to many competitors, the GH5S sensor is optimized for extraordinary low-light sensitivity and excellent dynamic range. Its lack of an anti-aliasing filter enables sharper images, especially when paired with high-quality lenses. The ISO range is broad, native 160 to 51200, expandable to 204800 boosts, making it a pro’s choice for night or indoor work.

• Panasonic ZS70: Features a much smaller 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm with a significantly higher 20MP resolution. While the pixel density is high, small sensor sizes usually compromise noise performance in lower light. Native ISOs run 80–3200, expandable to 6400. It’s great for daylight use and captures fine details in favorable lighting but won’t rival the GH5S’s dynamic range or noise control.

In my tests shooting landscapes and portraits, the GH5S produced cleaner shadows and retained highlights impressively, particularly when shooting RAW - a critical advantage for professionals who require maximum image latitude in post-processing. The ZS70 handles JPEGs deftly but shows noise creeping in under dimmer conditions.

Overall, if image quality is paramount, the GH5S’s Micro Four Thirds sensor outperforms the compact zoom’s smaller 1/2.3" sensor.

Control Layout and Usability: Engineered for Purpose

Control ergonomics directly affect how intuitively you can execute creative ideas.

The GH5S offers a wealth of physical controls - dedicated dials for ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and customizable buttons ideal for rapid adjustments. Its electronic viewfinder (EVF) boasts a high resolution of 3,680k dots with 100% coverage and a sizable 0.76x magnification, giving you a precise, clear look at your framing. The fully articulated 3.2-inch, 1,620k-dot touchscreen also aids in focus selection and menu navigation.

In contrast, the ZS70 has a simpler control array befitting its compact size. It includes a smaller EVF at just 1,166k dots and 0.46x magnification, with a tilting 3-inch, 1,040k-dot touchscreen. While sufficient for casual shooting, the less tactile, smaller buttons can be fiddly under stressful conditions or with gloves.

I found the GH5S to excel in demanding professional environments where tactile, quick adjustments matter, whereas the ZS70 is great for travel and snapshot photography due to its straightforward operation.

Autofocus Systems in Action: Precision and Tracking

Autofocus (AF) performance critically influences your success in various photography genres.

• GH5S: Deploys a contrast-detection autofocus system with 225 points optimized for video but lacks phase-detect pixels. It delivers accurate focus but can be slower than hybrid systems in challenging situations. In my wildlife tests, continuous AF with 12fps burst shooting resulted in good subject tracking but required some patience in low light.

• ZS70: Also uses contrast-detection AF with 49 points, performing well in daylight and standard conditions. Its 10fps burst shooting helps capture fast action, and the small sensor helps with wide depth of field, improving hit rate on moving subjects.

Neither camera offers eye or animal eye AF, which could be a drawback for portrait, wildlife, or sports shooters today. However, GH5S's AF excels in video and manual focus assistance like focus peaking is invaluable.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Durability Matters

The GH5S is engineered for rugged use. Panasonic built moisture and dust sealing into its chassis, providing enhanced environmental resistance. For outdoor photographers and videographers operating in tough conditions, this is a priceless feature. No intrusion concerns mean you can confidently shoot in rain or dusty environments.

The ZS70, being a pocketable compact, has no weather sealing or rugged protections, so caution is necessary in adverse weather.

Display and Interface: How You See Your Shots

A bright, high-res display shapes your shooting experience, especially in bright outdoors and video work.

The GH5S’s fully articulated 3.2-inch screen is not only touch-sensitive but offers greater resolution (1,620k dots), making menu system navigation and focus checks more precise. It’s ideal for video monitoring and unconventional perspectives.

The ZS70’s screen tilts up 180° and down 90°, facilitating selfies and vlogging-type shots. While less detailed, it’s user-friendly and has touch responsiveness.

Lens Ecosystem and Flexibility

Lens compatibility is often overlooked but massively impacts long-term usability and creative freedom.

• GH5S: Uses the Micro Four Thirds mount with over 100 available lenses ranging from primes to ultra-wide, fast telephoto, and specialized optics. This extensive ecosystem lets you tailor your setup per discipline - portrait, macro, landscape, or wildlife. High-quality optics tap into the sensor’s potential.

• ZS70: Sports a fixed 24-720mm equivalent (30x zoom) Leica-branded lens with aperture from f/3.3–6.4. While versatile for travel and casual diverse shooting, you’re limited by physical lens optics, with no scope for upgrades or creative focal lengths.

For serious photographers considering future growth, the GH5S’s lens flexibility outweighs the convenience of the ZS70.

A Burst of Speed: Continuous Shooting and Shutter Performance

When timing is everything - sports, wildlife, or fast events - frame rate and shutter speeds rule.

• GH5S: Offers 12 fps continuous shooting, with an electronic shutter maxing out at 1/16000s. This is advantageous for fast-moving subjects and bright light scenarios where wide apertures are needed. I found the buffer performance reliable for typical bursts.

• ZS70: Delivers 10 fps, which is still respectable for a compact camera. Mechanical and silent shutter modes are available, helping with discretion in noise-sensitive environments.

Battery Life and Storage: Long Days and Lots of Images

• GH5S: Rated for approximately 440 shots per charge using the DMW-BLF19 battery and features dual SD card slots supporting high-speed UHS-II cards. Dual slots enable overflow or backup recording - critical in professional workflows.

• ZS70: Yields about 380 shots per charge, using a battery specific to the model, and supports one SD card slot. While commendable for a compact, it necessitates prudence in heavy shooting days.

Professional and event shooters will appreciate the GH5S’s dual slot for uninterrupted operation and data safety.

Connectivity and Extras: The Modern Photographer’s Toolkit

• GH5S: Equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for fast image transfer and remote control, USB 3.1 for high-speed tethering, and full-size HDMI-out for external monitoring. There are microphone and headphone jacks - a massive benefit for videographers.

• ZS70: Also offers built-in Wi-Fi but lacks Bluetooth, uses slower USB 2.0, and has only a micro HDMI port. No microphone or headphone jacks constrain serious audio work but fit its entry-level position.

Shooting Styles and Genre-Specific Performance: Which Camera Shines Here?

Portrait Photography

• GH5S: The sensor and lens options let you create beautiful bokeh with shallow depth of field. Face detection AF helps, though there’s no eye AF. Skin tones render naturally, helped by 10-bit video capabilities for smooth gradation.

• ZS70: While capable of capturing portraits, the smaller sensor and slower lens limit background separation. Face detect is present but less refined.

Landscape Photography

• GH5S: With its dynamic range and excellent low noise, this is the clear winner. Weather sealing means you can brave harsher outdoor conditions. Compatible with ultra-wide and high-res primes.

• ZS70: Small sensor limits dynamic range and detail under challenging light. Good for casual landscape shots on holiday but less creative control.

Wildlife and Sports

• GH5S: Decent continuous shooting and AF tracking, plus microphone inputs for remote audio make it viable for some wildlife videography. The excellent lenses for reach and speed elevate performance here.

• ZS70: The 30x zoom lens gives huge flexibility for wildlife at distance but with compromises in image quality and AF responsiveness compared to interchangeable lens setups.

Street Photography

• ZS70: The compact size and quiet lens make it more discrete and less intrusive for street work. Lightweight and fast startup.

• GH5S: Bulkier and louder - less suited for candid moments, but the articulating screen helps with hidden angles.

Macro Photography

• GH5S: Supports focus stacking, focus bracketing, and with compatible lenses achieves outstanding macro detail and precision.

• ZS70: Close focus to 3 cm is handy for casual macro shots though resolution and detail fall short for serious macro.

Night and Astrophotography

• GH5S: The superior ISO range and clean images make low-light and astrophotography applications feasible. In-built exposure bracketing assists HDR work.

• ZS70: Limited by sensor size and max ISO.

Video Capabilities

• GH5S: Professional 4K UHD up to 60p, 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording, V-Log support, headphone and mic ports, H.264 and H.265 codecs. A videographer’s dream offering broadcast-quality video.

• ZS70: 4K UHD max 30p, no advanced audio ports or codec options. Good for casual 4K but not professional.

Travel Photography

• ZS70: Ideal for travel with huge zoom range, light weight, and flexible screen.

• GH5S: More cumbersome but excels where image quality and video versatility matter most.

Professional Usage and Workflow

• GH5S: RAW support, dual card slots, tethering, and extensive video tools make this camera suitable for demanding assignments and post-processing workflows.

• ZS70: Supports RAW, but more consumer-oriented file handling and single card slot.

Summing Up Performance: Visual Overview

Panasonic GH5S front Panasonic GH5S screen back Panasonic ZS70 front

Verdict and Recommendations

Panasonic GH5S: For Professionals and Serious Enthusiasts

• When image quality, video features, and rugged build take priority, this camera delivers. Its unique low-light sensor, video prowess, and flexible Micro Four Thirds lens system make it a sound investment for advanced photo and video work including landscapes, portraits, events, and some wildlife.

Pros:

• Superior low-light performance and dynamic range
• Pro-level 4K video with extensive codec support
• Robust build with weather sealing
• Extensive lens ecosystem
• Dual card slots and advanced connectivity

Cons:

• Larger, heavier body not suited for casual pocket carry
• No in-body image stabilization
• Contrast-only AF can be slow in some conditions

Panasonic ZS70: For Travelers and Casual Photographers

• The ultimate grab-and-go camera for those prioritizing convenience and versatile zoom capabilities. Ideal for travel, street, and everyday shooting where portability and straightforward use outweigh absolute image quality.

Pros:

• Pocketable and lightweight
• 30x zoom covers wide shooting scenarios
• User-friendly with good touchscreen and EVF
• Affordable price point

Cons:

• Small sensor limits image quality and low-light ability
• No external mic/headphone ports - video limited
• No weather sealing, single card slot

Final Thoughts: Matching Camera to Your Vision

Choosing between the Panasonic GH5S and ZS70 fundamentally depends on your photographic ambitions and shooting conditions:

• If you demand professional video quality, robust image performance in low light, and flexibility in lenses, the GH5S is the clear choice despite its heft and higher cost.

• If you want a budget-friendly, ultra-compact superzoom for casual photography and travel, with easy operation and respectable 4K video, the ZS70 offers excellent value.

By considering your shooting style, environment, and willingness to invest in additional lenses, you can pick the camera that truly complements your creative vision.

I hope this detailed comparison, drawn from extensive hands-on experience and rigorous testing, guides you confidently in selecting your next Panasonic camera. If you have further questions on specialized photography applications or video workflows, feel free to reach out. Happy shooting!