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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
89
Imaging
49
Features
54
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Key Specs

Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF3
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF6
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Introduced June 2012
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS20
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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS15, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are built by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the GF5 (12MP) and the ZS15 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the GF5 (Four Thirds) and ZS15 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizing.

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The GF5 was introduced 2 months before the ZS15 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the GF5 grades against the ZS15 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Panasonic ZS15

 GF5 ZS15 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Panasonic GF5

 ZS15 GF5 

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic ZS15

 GF5 ZS15 
IntroducedApril 2012June 2012Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic GF5 provides exterior measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS15 has specifications of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS15 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at the time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the GF5 versus the ZS15.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF5 and ZS15 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizing purely by checking specifications. The photograph here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the GF5 and ZS15.

Plainly, both the cameras come with the identical megapixel count albeit different sensor sizing. The GF5 features the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallow DOF simpler.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF5
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS15
56
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
21
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography factors
70
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
has focus via touch
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (208 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Sports photography camera
41
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
no phase detect autofocus
36
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
max fps low (2.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (260 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Travel photography camera
61
has focus via touch
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
MP count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
61
lighter than competitors (208 grams)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (384mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery pack (260 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography features
59
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
37
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery pack (260 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging factors
32
screen is touchscreen
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have mic socket
33
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (208g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone port
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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic ZS15
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-04-05 2012-06-29
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 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias 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 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 267 gr (0.59 pounds) 208 gr (0.46 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos 260 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $600 $279