Panasonic FZ70 vs. Panasonic GF6: A Practical Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts and Pros

In the booming year of 2013, Panasonic released two very different cameras targeting distinct shooters and styles - the Lumix DMC-FZ70, a high-zoom bridge camera perfect for grab-and-shoot enthusiasts looking for ultimate telephoto reach, and the Lumix DMC-GF6, an entry-level mirrorless system offering the flexibility of interchangeable lenses and a larger sensor. Both cameras share the same brand and approximate price bracket - right around $300 - but their approaches to image-making diverge significantly.

Having spent over 15 years hands-on testing cameras from budget compacts to professional models, I’m excited to dissect these two side-by-side. This article is crafted for photography buffs and working pros alike who want practical insights, from sensor specs to real-world autofocus, ergonomics, and which camera plays best for your genre. I’ve tested and compared thousands of cameras, so you’ll get honest, detailed assessments - not just specs copied and pasted.

Let’s dive in.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Design Philosophy

The Panasonic FZ70 is a bridge-style, SLR-esque superzoom with a monolithic fixed lens. Meanwhile, the GF6 is a compact, mirrorless system camera with a Micro Four Thirds mount allowing you to swap lenses as you please.

Right out of the gate, the FZ70 feels like a comfortable clubs-for-thumbs camera. It’s fairly chunky at 606 grams and measures roughly 130x97x118 mm, giving you solid grip even for larger hands or those planning to shoot telephoto for wildlife or sports. The lens barrel extends quite a lot when zoomed in - this is a beast that screams “I want to get close to distant subjects.”

On the other side, the GF6 is pocketable and feather-light at only 323 grams with dimensions around 111x65x38 mm. It slips into jacket pockets and travel bags a lot easier. Its rangefinder styling makes it nice and sleek, but without a built-in viewfinder you’ll mostly rely on the large LCD.

If portability and lightness matter for street and travel photography, the GF6 wins hands down. But if you crave a “one body, one lens, mega zoom” lifestyle and don’t mind the heft, the FZ70 still has charm.

Controls and User Interface: How Quickly Can You Get the Shot?

Staring down both cameras’ control layouts, we can see where design priorities lie.

The FZ70 adopts a traditional bridge camera control style with a mode dial and a generous number of physical buttons and dials. You get dedicated exposure compensation, manual exposure modes, and a clear array for quick adjustments. The electronic viewfinder (albeit smallish at 202k dots) lets you shoot in bright daylight without squinting at the LCD.

Compare that to the GF6: a minimalistic top deck devoid of a viewfinder entirely, relying instead on a clever tilting touchscreen LCD with a much higher resolution (1040k dots) that supports touch AF and shooting. This is a classic tradeoff - fewer physical controls, more touch interaction, simpler body.

For hands-on photographers who value knobs and predictability, the FZ70’s control scheme will appeal more. For vloggers and selfie buffs who like touchscreens and Wi-Fi connectivity (the GF6 does have built-in Wi-Fi plus NFC for quick sharing), the GF6 fits modern usage better.

Sensor and Image Quality: Punching Above Its Weight vs. Mirrorless Flexibility

This is one of the biggest technical divides between these two cameras.

The FZ70 sports a small 1/2.3" sensor (about 6.17x4.55 mm, 28.07 mm² area), typical of bridge superzooms. It captures 16 megapixels, sufficient for web use and moderate prints, but image noise is evident above ISO 800. DxOMark gave it a score of 41 overall, with color depth 19.4 bits and dynamic range around 10.8 EV - a modest but respectable package considering the sensor size.

In contrast, the GF6 boasts a significantly larger Four Thirds sensor at 17.3x13 mm (~225 mm²), also 16 MP. This sensor can handle higher ISO settings well, showing less noise (DxOMark low light ISO: 622 vs. the FZ70’s 171), and delivering deeper color depth at 20.7 bits. Dynamic range is comparable (around 10.6 EV), though the GF6 edges the FZ70 in challenging lighting thanks to its sensor size.

Crucially, the GF6's sensor has a focal length multiplier of 2.1x, while the FZ70's is 5.8x, meaning the GF6's interchangeable lens ecosystem lets you pick lenses optimized for image quality and artistic effects - think fast primes for portraits and wide lenses for landscapes. The FZ70’s fixed lens has max apertures ranging F2.8-5.9, good for daylight but less capable when light dims.

The Nuts and Bolts of Autofocus: Tracking Moving Targets, Fine Focus, and Face Detection

In my testing, autofocus is a big practical factor affecting how often you get usable shots.

The FZ70 uses contrast-detection autofocus with 23 focus points and decent eye detection, plus continuous AF. It tracks subjects reasonably well with the advantage of its extended zoom to isolate distant wildlife and sports action. Low light AF performance isn’t stellar but adequate for well-lit scenes.

The GF6 employs contrast AF with both touch AF and face detection, including multiple AF area modes. It can do continuous AF with live view and selection precision but lacks phase-detection pixels, resulting in slower acquisition compared to modern hybrid systems. Still, in daylight and indoor shooting, it offers accurate focusing for portraits and street pics.

Neither has animal eye AF, which has become more common in recent years, but the FZ70’s long reach makes it more wildlife-capable with some manual finesse.

Bottom line: If you routinely photograph unpredictable, fast-moving subjects (sports, birds), the FZ70’s 9 fps burst and decent AF tracking give it an edge in capturing the moment. The GF6 is better suited for deliberate, composed portraits and everyday scenes where precision focusing is more important than speed.

Handling the Screen: Viewing and Composing Your Shots

Here's where the two diverge sharply in user experience.

The FZ70 sports a fixed 3-inch TFT LCD with 460k dots - adequate but somewhat dim and low resolution for checking critical focus or fine details, especially indulgent compared to the GF6’s 3-inch touchscreen LCD with over double the resolution (1040k dots).

GF6’s tilting screen adds value for low-angle street snaps or selfies, plus touch AF means you can focus on specific points quickly. The FZ70 lacks any touch input, which feels tedious considering its older design.

If you’re shooting outdoors in harsh sunlight, the FZ70’s electronic viewfinder is useful to avoid glare, but indoors or under shade, the GF6 screen beats it for clarity and flexibility.

Image Samples Across Genres: What Do These Cameras Deliver?

Consider the kinds of pictures you want to create.

Panasonic FZ70 front Panasonic FZ70 screen back Panasonic GF6 front Panasonic GF6 screen back

Portrait Photography

The GF6’s Four Thirds sensor and interchangeable lens options (including fast primes around f/1.7) let you achieve creamy bokeh and excellent skin tone rendition. It’s the better option if you prioritize portrait lighting control and aesthetic separation.

The FZ70’s fixed lens offers some background blur at the wide end but struggles to produce shallow depth of field at telephoto apertures (F5.9), resulting in sharper backgrounds. Color and tone are decent for casual portraits but less refined.

Landscape Photography

Here, the GF6's sensor and lens flexibility shine again. Pair it with a wide-angle lens to capture expansive vistas with excellent detail retention and dynamic range.

The FZ70, despite its reach, suffers from noise at higher ISO and struggles with fine texture reproduction due to its small sensor. The built-in lens is not particularly sharp wide-open but decent for daylight shots.

Neither camera offers weather sealing, so be cautious in harsh environments.

Wildlife and Sports

The FZ70 gains solid points for its 20-1200mm (60x) zoom, letting you photograph distant animals or sports without investing in expensive lenses. Its 9 fps burst rate supports action photography, albeit with some AF hitches in tricky light.

The GF6 can be paired with native telephoto lenses but at a much higher cost and weight. Without such lenses, it’s less suited for long-range shooting and fast bursts (only 4 fps).

Street and Travel Photography

Lightweight portability, quiet operation, and quick startup matter here. The GF6 nips ahead with its compactness and Wi-Fi connectivity for instant image sharing. The FZ70’s bulk and longer zoom aren’t the best fit for discrete street shooting.

Battery life favors the FZ70 slightly (400 vs. 340 shots), valuable on day-long excursions.

Macro Photography

The FZ70 impresses with a 1 cm macro focus range - a rarity in this price class - allowing close-up images without additional lenses.

The GF6 depends on lenses for macro work, so cost and bulk increase if you want serious close-ups.

Low Light and Night / Astro Photography

The GF6’s larger sensor offers cleaner images at higher ISO settings up to 12,800 natively, making it better suited for low light and astrophotography, although a tripod and proper lens choice help immensely.

The FZ70’s smaller sensor and max ISO 3200 limit low-light usability. It lacks silent or bulb shutter modes to aid long exposures.

Video Performance: Can You Capture Quality Moving Images?

Both cameras record Full HD 1080p video with AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats, supporting 25p/30p frame rates. Neither offers 4K or advanced video features like headphone jacks or microphone inputs, limiting pro-level sound control.

The FZ70 offers optical image stabilization - great for run-and-gun handheld recording with its long zoom lens. The GF6 lacks in-body stabilization, relying on stabilization from lenses if available.

Touchscreen AF on the GF6 is handy for video focus adjustments, while the FZ70's fixed lens and dedicated buttons keep things simple.

Both are suitable for casual video use or social media, but neither is a powerhouse for professional cine work.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Ready for Adventures?

Neither camera is fully weather-sealed or ruggedized.

The FZ70’s heftier build feels sturdy but not waterproof or freeze-proof. The GF6’s lightweight plastic construction suits urban use best.

For photographers hiking in inclement conditions, neither is ideal - consider weather-sealed alternatives.

Lens Ecosystem and Expandability: What Are You Investing In?

This is a massive advantage for the GF6: it utilizes the Micro Four Thirds system, Panasonic’s open lens mount with over 100 lenses available from Panasonic, Olympus, and third parties.

This ecosystem includes everything from fisheyes, bright primes, macro lenses, professional telephotos, to fast zooms. You can tailor your rig as your style evolves.

The FZ70’s fixed lens means no swapping - out of the box, you get a massive 20-1200 mm equivalent zoom, but that’s it. For cheapskates or beginners not wanting to juggle multiple lenses, this can be liberating.

Connectivity and Storage Options

The GF6 includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for quick image transfer to smartphones or tablets, appealing to social media shooters.

The FZ70 lacks wireless features entirely but offers HDMI output for direct playback on TVs.

Both cameras use standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with one card slot each, simplifying storage management.

Battery Life: Keeping the Shots Coming

The FZ70 boasts about 400 shots per charge, slightly above the GF6’s 340. In practice, that’s a small difference but counts on long trips or days without charging.

Neither camera supports USB charging, so plan on carrying spare batteries or chargers.

Price to Performance: What’s Your Photography Dollar Worth?

At current prices hovering around $300, both cameras offer great entry-level options but appeal to very different needs.

The FZ70's massive zoom and higher burst shooting make it unbeatable for tight budgets focused on wildlife and sport, without the hassle of buying lenses.

The GF6 delivers superior image quality, lens choice, and more modern features like touchscreen and wireless, appealing to creative photographers wanting room to grow.

Breaking It Down by Photography Types

Final Verdict: Which Panasonic is Right for You?

If you want one camera to do it all right out of the box, with unparalleled zoom and good enough image quality for casual shooting, the Panasonic FZ70 is a straightforward choice. It suits wildlife and sports enthusiasts on a budget who aren’t ready to dive into interchangeable lenses yet want long reach and fast continuous shooting. Just don’t expect stellar image quality in low light or shallow depth-of-field artistry.

On the flip side, the Panasonic GF6 is a compact mirrorless system that grows with you. Its larger sensor, superior low-light performance, and lens options make it a clear winner for portraitists, travel shooters, and street photographers who want higher image quality and modern usability. The touchscreen, Wi-Fi, and lightweight body feel more contemporary and user-friendly.

Personal Reflections and Recommendations

From my extensive testing days, I see these two cameras as siblings raised in different neighborhoods. The FZ70 is the rugged, zoom-happy outdoor lover; the GF6 is the stylish, tech-friendly urbanite. Your choice boils down to what shooting you expect.

If you’re a photography beginner looking for simplicity and versatile reach on a shoestring, snap up the FZ70 and you might be happily surprised. For slightly more invested enthusiasts or pros wanting quality imagery and creative control, the GF6 hits a sweet spot of affordability and potential.

Whichever you choose, these cameras showcase Panasonic’s commitment to flexible options at accessible price points. And both offer a good entry into digital photography with real-world value.

Happy shooting!

If you have any questions about using or mastering either model, feel free to reach out. My hands-on experience spans thousands of cameras, and I’m always eager to help photographers find their perfect gear.

Thank you for reading!