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Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
66
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Released July 2012
  • Succeeded the Panasonic G3
  • Newer Model is Panasonic G6
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS15
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS25
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Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Below is a comprehensive assessment of the Panasonic G5 versus Panasonic ZS20, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are created by Panasonic. The resolution of the G5 (16MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the G5 (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The G5 was released 3 months later than the ZS20 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summation of how the G5 scores versus the ZS20 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G5 over the Panasonic ZS20

 G5 ZS20 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Panasonic G5

 ZS20 G5 

Common features in the Panasonic G5 and Panasonic ZS20

 G5 ZS20 
IntroducedJuly 2012April 2012Similar age
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera, you have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic G5 offers outer measurements of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") along with a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS20 has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic G5 versus Panasonic ZS20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the G5 compared to the ZS20.

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G5 and ZS20 is 74 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements only by reading through technical specs. The graphic underneath will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the G5 and ZS20.

As you have seen, each of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The G5 due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Panasonic G5 will resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively.

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
30
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Street photography camera
66
fully articulated screen
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
supports touch focus
no image stabilization
heavier than others (396g)
65
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with touch to focus
lighter than competition (206g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic G5
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS20
51
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
no image stabilization
no phase detect AF
47
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (260 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Travel photography camera
66
supports touch focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (396g)
68
lighter than competition (206g)
comes with touch to focus
good resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
great zoom (480mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery life (260 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G5 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography factors
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
42
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
bad battery life (260 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G5 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Vlogging camera
62
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
no image stabilization
does not have external mic jack
heavier than others (396g)
34
decently wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (206g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone support
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Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G5 and Panasonic ZS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-07-17 2012-04-26
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine VII FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 16MP 14MP
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 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.50 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 396g (0.87 pounds) 206g (0.45 pounds)
Physical dimensions 120 x 83 x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 images 260 images
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
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $699 $349