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Panasonic G2 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
72
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Panasonic G2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

Panasonic G2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 428g - 124 x 84 x 74mm
  • Released July 2010
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic G1
  • Replacement is Panasonic G3
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Introduced January 2014
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Panasonic G2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Panasonic G2 vs Panasonic SZ8, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are designed by Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the G2 (12MP) and SZ8 (16MP) and the G2 (Four Thirds) and SZ8 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizes.

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The G2 was revealed 4 years earlier than the SZ8 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic G2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the G2 scores vs the SZ8 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G2 over the Panasonic SZ8

 G2 SZ8 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Panasonic G2

 SZ8 G2 
IntroducedJanuary 2014July 2010Fresher by 42 months

Common features in the Panasonic G2 and Panasonic SZ8

 G2 SZ8 
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution

Panasonic G2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic G2 enjoys exterior measurements of 124mm x 84mm x 74mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ8 has sizing of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic G2 vs Panasonic SZ8 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the G2 and the SZ8.

Panasonic G2 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the G2 and SZ8 is 72 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic G2 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizing simply by looking at technical specs. The graphic below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the G2 and SZ8.

As you have seen, each of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The G2 having a bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic SZ8 will give you greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older G2 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic G2 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G2 Portrait photography info
Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography info
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
35
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G2 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Street photography camera
65
screen articulates
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
includes touch to focus
does not have image stabilization
heavier than others (428 grams)
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (159 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Sports photography camera
40
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
no phase detect autofocus
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G2 Travel photography features
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography features
58
includes touch to focus
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
no Time Lapse function
heavier than others (428 grams)
low MP (12 megapixels)
67
lighter than competition (159 grams)
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
great reach (288mm)
missing Timelapse mode
bad battery power (200 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G2 Landscape photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography details
57
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
no Time Lapse function
42
decently wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
bad battery power (200 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Vlogging camera
61
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
comes with face detection autofocus
has external mic support
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
heavier than others (428 grams)
32
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (159g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone support
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Panasonic G2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G2 and Panasonic SZ8
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-07-12 2014-01-06
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD II Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-6.3
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 11.00 m 5.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD Lite, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 428 gr (0.94 lb) 159 gr (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 84 x 74mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.9") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 53 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 493 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos 200 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $1,000 $275