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Panasonic G85 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
69
Imaging
55
Features
84
Overall
66
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Panasonic G85 vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs

Panasonic G85
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 505g - 128 x 89 x 74mm
  • Released September 2016
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-G80
  • Replacement is Panasonic G95
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Revealed July 2012
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Panasonic G85 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Panasonic G85 versus Panasonic SZ5, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Panasonic. The image resolution of the G85 (16MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is very close but the G85 (Four Thirds) and SZ5 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The G85 was unveiled 4 years after the SZ5 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic G85 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ5 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the G85 matches up against the SZ5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G85 over the Panasonic SZ5

 G85 SZ5 
RevealedSeptember 2016July 2012Newer by 51 months
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Panasonic G85

 SZ5 G85 

Common features in the Panasonic G85 and Panasonic SZ5

 G85 SZ5 
Display size3"3"Same display sizing

Panasonic G85 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic G85 has external dimensions of 128mm x 89mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9") with a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ5 has specifications of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic G85 versus Panasonic SZ5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the G85 and the SZ5.

Panasonic G85 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the G85 and SZ5 is 69 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic G85 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G85 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to see the difference in sensor dimensions only by viewing specs. The image below will offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the G85 and SZ5.

All in all, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The G85 with its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic G85 will provide you with more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics way more aggressively. The more modern G85 will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Panasonic G85 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G85 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G85 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G85 Portrait photography information
Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography information
73
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW formats
34
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic G85
Street photography with Panasonic SZ5
77
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
environment proofing
good high ISO (25,600)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (136g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G85 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography highlights
65
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
terrible battery power (330 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic G85
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ5
71
environment proofing
offers focus by touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
terrible battery power (330 CIPA)
70
lighter than average in class (136 grams)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G85 Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography info
74
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
no low pass filter
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
terrible battery power (330 per charge)
42
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G85 Vlogging advice
Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging advice
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes microphone jack
32
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
lighter than average in class (136 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone socket
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Panasonic G85 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G85 and Panasonic SZ5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Alternate name Lumix DMC-G80 -
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2016-09-19 2012-07-18
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
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 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3448 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Highest boosted ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 49 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.20 m (at ISO 100) 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 505g (1.11 lb) 136g (0.30 lb)
Physical dimensions 128 x 89 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 656 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 250 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs x 3 shots) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $900 $195