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Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
66
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S2 Key Specs

Panasonic G5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 83 x 71mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Replaced the Panasonic G3
  • Refreshed by Panasonic G6
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Released January 2012
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Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Following is a detailed overview of the Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S2, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Panasonic. The image resolution of the G5 (16MP) and the S2 (14MP) is very close but the G5 (Four Thirds) and S2 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizing.

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The G5 was revealed 7 months after the S2 and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the G5 scores vs the S2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G5 over the Panasonic S2

 G5 S2 
ReleasedJuly 2012January 2012More modern by 7 months
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Panasonic G5

 S2 G5 

Common features in the Panasonic G5 and Panasonic S2

 G5 S2 

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic G5 has outer dimensions of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) and the Panasonic S2 has measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S2 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view size comparison of the G5 compared to the S2.

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the G5 and S2 is 74 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes merely by viewing technical specs. The picture below will give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the G5 and S2.

As you have seen, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The G5 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic G5 will render greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The fresher G5 provides an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic G5
Portrait photography with Panasonic S2
71
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
33
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G5 Street photography highlights
Panasonic S2 Street photography highlights
66
screen articulates fully
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with focus via touch
no image stabilization
more heavy than average (396g)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (112 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G5 Sports photography information
Panasonic S2 Sports photography information
51
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
39
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good battery pack (280 shots)
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G5 Travel photography factors
Panasonic S2 Travel photography factors
66
comes with focus via touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than average (396 grams)
70
good battery pack (280 per charge)
lighter than competition (112g)
good resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G5 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Landscape photography camera
65
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
lack of Timelapse recording
41
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
good battery pack (280 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G5 Vlogging information
Panasonic S2 Vlogging information
62
display is selfie friendly
touch screen
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
no image stabilization
lack of microphone socket
more heavy than average (396g)
32
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (112g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone support
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Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G5 and Panasonic S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-07-17 2012-01-09
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine VII FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.50 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 396 gr (0.87 lb) 112 gr (0.25 lb)
Physical dimensions 120 x 83 x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 61 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 618 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 photos 280 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $699 $109