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Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
59
Imaging
37
Features
73
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
49
Features
54
Overall
51

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic GF5 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 691g - 132 x 92 x 117mm
  • Introduced July 2015
  • Succeeded the Panasonic FZ200
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
  • Older Model is Panasonic GF3
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF6
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic GF5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are built by Panasonic. The resolution of the FZ300 (12MP) and the GF5 (12MP) is very comparable but the FZ300 (1/2.3") and GF5 (Four Thirds) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The FZ300 was unveiled 3 years later than the GF5 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the FZ300 scores vs the GF5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Panasonic GF5

 FZ300 GF5 
AnnouncedJuly 2015April 2012Fresher by 40 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k920kSharper display (+120k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Panasonic FZ300

 GF5 FZ300 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ300 and Panasonic GF5

 FZ300 GF5 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Touch display Easily navigate

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic FZ300 features outside measurements of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") and a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs) while the Panasonic GF5 has sizing of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic GF5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the FZ300 vs the GF5.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the FZ300 and GF5 is 59 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to see the contrast in sensor sizing merely by going through technical specs. The visual below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the FZ300 and GF5.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact resolution but not the same sensor sizing. The FZ300 has the smaller sensor which will make getting shallow DOF more difficult. The more recent FZ300 will have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ300
Portrait photography with Panasonic GF5
46
manual focus
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
56
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Street photography info
Panasonic GF5 Street photography info
59
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
comes with touch focus
environment proof
small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than competitors in class (691g)
70
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides focus via touch
fixed screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Sports photography advice
Panasonic GF5 Sports photography advice
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
high shutter speed (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
good battery (380 shots)
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
41
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
slow fps (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Travel photography factors
Panasonic GF5 Travel photography factors
59
good battery (380 per charge)
environment proof
comes with touch focus
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
heavier than competitors in class (691g)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
61
provides focus via touch
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
low resolution (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Landscape photography features
Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography features
52
manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
environment proof
good battery (380 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
59
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Vlogging advice
Panasonic GF5 Vlogging advice
62
fairly wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have mic socket
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
heavier than competitors in class (691 grams)
32
touchscreen capability
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
missing mic socket
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ300 and Panasonic GF5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2015-07-16 2012-04-05
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 160
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 49 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.8 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/16000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 12.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.80 m (at Auto ISO) 6.30 m
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 691 gr (1.52 lb) 267 gr (0.59 lb)
Dimensions 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 380 shots 360 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $598 $600