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Panasonic GF2 vs Sony W730

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
33
Overall
37

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony W730 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  • Superseded the Panasonic GF1
  • Successor is Panasonic GF3
Sony W730
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-224mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2013
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Panasonic GF2 vs Sony W730 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Panasonic GF2 versus Sony W730, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the GF2 (12MP) and W730 (16MP) and the GF2 (Four Thirds) and W730 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizing.

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The GF2 was unveiled 22 months earlier than the W730 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W730 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the GF2 grades vs the W730 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Sony W730

 GF2 W730 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W730 over the Panasonic GF2

 W730 GF2 
LaunchedJanuary 2013February 2011Newer by 22 months

Common features in the Panasonic GF2 and Sony W730

 GF2 W730 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony W730 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera often, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic GF2 enjoys physical dimensions of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") along with a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs) and the Sony W730 has sizing of 93mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") and a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

See the Panasonic GF2 versus Sony W730 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the GF2 against the W730.

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony W730 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF2 and W730 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony W730 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony W730 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reading through technical specs. The image here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF2 and W730.

As you can tell, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GF2 with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Sony W730 will resolve extra detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The more aged GF2 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony W730 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony W730 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony W730 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF2 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W730 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
35
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF2 as a Street photography camera
Sony W730 as a Street photography camera
65
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch to focus
lighter than competition (122g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Sports photography features
Sony W730 Sports photography features
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (300 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
has tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF2 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W730 as a Travel photography camera
52
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (300 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
lighter than competition (122 grams)
includes touch to focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
no Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF2
Landscape photography with Sony W730
55
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (300 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
39
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF2 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W730 as a Vlogging camera
32
built-in touchscreen
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have mic port
34
relatively wide (25mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (122 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic support
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Panasonic GF2 vs Sony W730 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF2 and Sony W730
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-02-24 2013-01-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-224mm (9.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-6.3
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Advanced Flash
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 310g (0.68 pounds) 122g (0.27 pounds)
Dimensions 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") 93 x 52 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 240 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $330 $138