Panasonic ZS80 vs Panasonic GH2

In this article, we will be matching up the Panasonic ZS80 versus Panasonic GH2, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless and both are manufactured by Panasonic. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the ZS80 (20MP) and GH2 (16MP) and the ZS80 (1/2.3") and GH2 (Four Thirds) possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The ZS80 was manufactured 7 years later than the GH2 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS80 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise view of how the ZS80 scores against the GH2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS80 Gallery & Panasonic GH2 Gallery.

If you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS80 offers external dimensions of 112mm x 69mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") and a weight of 327 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Panasonic GH2 has specifications of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") having a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZS80 versus Panasonic GH2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the ZS80 compared to the GH2.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS80 and GH2 is 86 and 70 respectively.

Oftentimes, its tough to envision the difference in sensor measurements purely by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS80 and GH2.

Clearly, the two cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The ZS80 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Panasonic ZS80 will render extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more recent ZS80 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.