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Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS5 Key Specs

Panasonic GF2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF1
  • Renewed by Panasonic GF3
Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ8
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Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS5, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both manufactured by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the GF2 (12MP) and the ZS5 (12MP) is pretty close but the GF2 (Four Thirds) and ZS5 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor size.

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The GF2 was announced 9 months after the ZS5 and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the GF2 scores vs the ZS5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Panasonic ZS5

 GF2 ZS5 
LaunchedFebruary 2011June 2010More modern by 9 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Panasonic GF2

 ZS5 GF2 

Common features in the Panasonic GF2 and Panasonic ZS5

 GF2 ZS5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF2 offers physical measurements of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS5 has proportions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the GF2 versus the ZS5.

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF2 and ZS5 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizes purely by researching specifications. The pic underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the GF2 and ZS5.

To sum up, the 2 cameras feature the identical megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizes. The GF2 features the bigger sensor which is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier. The more recent GF2 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF2
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS5
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
27
comes with face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS5 Street photography information
65
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (214g)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography information
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
31
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
slow fps (2.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS5 as a Travel photography camera
52
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (300 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
63
lighter than average (214 grams)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
missing Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography advice
55
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
no Time Lapse function
33
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Vlogging information
Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging information
32
touch screen
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no mic jack
31
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
lighter than average (214g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone socket
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Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF2 and Panasonic ZS5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ8
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-02-24 2010-06-16
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD Venus Engine HD II
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 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 5.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 310 grams (0.68 lbs) 214 grams (0.47 lbs)
Physical dimensions 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 506 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs -
Battery type 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
Price at release $330 $300