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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ7

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ7 Key Specs

Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF3
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF6
Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ7 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ7, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are sold by Panasonic. The image resolution of the GF5 (12MP) and the SZ7 (14MP) is fairly similar but the GF5 (Four Thirds) and SZ7 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The GF5 was revealed 3 months later than the SZ7 and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief summary of how the GF5 grades against the SZ7 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Panasonic SZ7

 GF5 SZ7 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Panasonic GF5

 SZ7 GF5 

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic SZ7

 GF5 SZ7 
IntroducedApril 2012January 2012Similar age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF5 has got outside dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ7 has measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

See the Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ7 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the GF5 compared to the SZ7.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ7 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GF5 and SZ7 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ7 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to see the contrast between sensor sizing just by going over specifications. The visual underneath might provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF5 and SZ7.

To sum up, both of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GF5 with its larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic SZ7 will deliver extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos much more aggressively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography features
Panasonic SZ7 Portrait photography features
55
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
33
decent MP (14MP)
has face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Street photography camera
70
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
includes focus via touch
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (133 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Sports photography factors
Panasonic SZ7 Sports photography factors
40
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
lack of phase detect autofocus
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Travel photography information
Panasonic SZ7 Travel photography information
61
includes focus via touch
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
70
lighter than competition in class (133 grams)
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
no Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography details
Panasonic SZ7 Landscape photography details
59
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
42
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Vlogging camera
32
has touchscreen
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
lack of mic port
35
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (133g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone port
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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic SZ7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-04-05 2012-01-09
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range - 4cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.30 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 267 grams (0.59 lb) 133 grams (0.29 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 50 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 images 220 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at release $600 $199