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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS3 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
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF3
  • Successor is Panasonic GF6
Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Released May 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

The following is a detailed analysis of the Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS3, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are sold by Panasonic. The image resolution of the GF5 (12MP) and the ZS3 (10MP) is pretty close but the GF5 (Four Thirds) and ZS3 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The GF5 was revealed 2 years after the ZS3 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a short summation of how the GF5 scores versus the ZS3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Panasonic ZS3

 GF5 ZS3 
ReleasedApril 2012May 2009Newer by 36 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Panasonic GF5

 ZS3 GF5 

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic ZS3

 GF5 ZS3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic GF5 comes with physical dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS3 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the GF5 and the ZS3.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF5 and ZS3 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to picture the gap in sensor dimensions only by viewing specs. The pic here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF5 and ZS3.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The GF5 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Panasonic GF5 will provide you with greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The younger GF5 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography highlights
55
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12MP)
19
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS3 Street photography factors
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with focus via touch
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography features
40
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
does not have phase detect auto focus
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Travel photography camera
61
comes with focus via touch
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
63
lighter than competition (229g)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Landscape photography camera
59
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging factors
32
built-in touchscreen
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have microphone support
30
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic support
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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic ZS3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-04-05 2009-05-14
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 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 160 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 920k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD AVCHD Lite
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 267g (0.59 lbs) 229g (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" 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 -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $600 $200