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Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic S2 Key Specs

Panasonic GF2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF1
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF3
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2012
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Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Panasonic GF2 versus Panasonic S2, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are manufactured by Panasonic. The image resolution of the GF2 (12MP) and the S2 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the GF2 (Four Thirds) and S2 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizes.

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The GF2 was brought out 10 months before the S2 and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the GF2 scores against the S2 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Panasonic S2

 GF2 S2 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Panasonic GF2

 S2 GF2 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012February 2011More recent by 10 months

Common features in the Panasonic GF2 and Panasonic S2

 GF2 S2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF2 provides outside measurements of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") along with a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs) while the Panasonic S2 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

See the Panasonic GF2 versus Panasonic S2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the GF2 compared to the S2.

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GF2 and S2 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to visualise the difference in sensor measurements only by checking out specs. The graphic below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the GF2 and S2.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GF2 featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic S2 will show extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older GF2 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Street photography information
Panasonic S2 Street photography information
65
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (112 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GF2
Sports photography with Panasonic S2
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
39
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
good battery power (280 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Travel photography camera
52
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
70
good battery power (280 shots)
lighter than competitors (112g)
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Landscape photography details
Panasonic S2 Landscape photography details
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (300 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
41
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
good battery power (280 shots)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Vlogging features
Panasonic S2 Vlogging features
32
screen is touchscreen
supports face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no microphone support
32
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than competitors (112g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic socket
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Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF2 and Panasonic S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-02-24 2012-01-09
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 310 gr (0.68 lbs) 112 gr (0.25 lbs)
Physical dimensions 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 506 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images 280 images
Battery type 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 One One
Retail cost $330 $109