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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
89
Imaging
49
Features
54
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ8 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
  • Older Model is Panasonic GF3
  • New Model is Panasonic GF6
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Announced January 2014
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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic SZ8, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both created by Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and SZ8 (16MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and SZ8 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizing.

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The GF5 was manufactured 21 months earlier than the SZ8 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a concise summary of how the GF5 scores versus the SZ8 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Panasonic SZ8

 GF5 SZ8 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Panasonic GF5

 SZ8 GF5 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014April 2012Newer by 21 months

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic SZ8

 GF5 SZ8 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF5 features exterior dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ8 has measurements of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic SZ8 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the GF5 and the SZ8.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF5 and SZ8 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by seeing specs. The image underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the GF5 and SZ8.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GF5 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic SZ8 will show greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged GF5 will be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography details
56
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
35
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography information
Panasonic SZ8 Street photography information
70
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
no moving screen
no image stabilization
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (159 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Sports photography advice
Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography advice
41
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
slow fps (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
no phase detect AF
34
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GF5
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ8
61
comes with focus by touch
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
67
lighter than others in class (159g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
great reach (288mm)
no Timelapse mode
bad battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF5
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ8
59
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
no Time Lapse function
42
really wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery (200 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GF5
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ8
32
touchscreen functionality
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
no external mic socket
32
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
lighter than others in class (159g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone socket
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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic SZ8
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-04-05 2014-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-288mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-6.3
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 5.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 267 grams (0.59 pounds) 159 grams (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 50 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 200 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $600 $275