Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS35: Which Small Camera Packs the Bigger Punch?

Choosing the right camera has always been a balancing act between size, flexibility, image quality, and, of course, price. Today I’m putting two very different Panasonic cameras under the microscope: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 – an entry-level mirrorless designed for enthusiasts dipping toes into interchangeable lens territory – and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS35 (a.k.a Lumix TZ55) – a compact superzoom aimed at travelers craving versatility in one pocket-sized package.

Both are offered at friendly–even tempting–price points, but which makes the better everyday companion? Which serves your photographic ambitions best? And where does each stumble? I’ve spent time shooting with both in various scenarios to provide you a grounded, experience-driven comparison. We’ll traverse sensor specs, optics, ergonomics, shooting styles, and real-world handling - helping you find your ideal match.

Let’s dive in.

First Impressions: Size, Controls, & Handling

When it comes to daily carry and quick responsiveness, size and ergonomics are king.

Starting with the GF5: it’s a rangefinder-style mirrorless camera, measuring 108 x 67 x 37 mm and weighing a light 267 grams (body only). Its Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lens mount supports an extensive lens lineup - 107 lenses and counting - offering flexibility for any mood or subject. This size-comparison is telling:

The GF5’s body feels substantial yet approachable. The grip, while modest, provides enough confidence to manage heavier lenses - a definite boon once you start exploring the MFT world more seriously.

By contrast, the ZS35 shines for sheer pocketability - compact at 107 x 62 x 32 mm and 305 grams but with a fixed lens. It’s slightly thicker but far slimmer with that folded lens, designed to slip seamlessly into a jacket pocket or purse. The tradeoff? A smaller sensor with fewer manual control options.

Looking down upon them gives insight into control layout - the GF5’s traditional DSLR-inspired style versus the more pared-back ZS35:

The GF5 sports dedicated dials and buttons for exposure mode, ISO, and a responsive touch screen. Meanwhile, the ZS35 keeps things simple, relying heavily on menus and a tilting - though non-touch - LCD. For photographers who like tactile feedback or more manual overrides, the GF5 is the clear winner here.

If you prefer a no-fuss grab-and-shoot compact for travel or street photography, the ZS35’s minimal controls are actually a plus - quick, distraction-free shooting.

Sensor Showdown: Image Quality from the Inside Out

It’s impossible to gloss over sensor technology when considering image quality - the raw canvas for every pixel.

The GF5 wields a 17.3 x 13 mm Four Thirds CMOS sensor, with a resolution of 12 megapixels. The sensor area of approximately 225 mm² dwarfs the ZS35’s tiny 1/2.3-inch sensor, measuring just 6.08 x 4.56 mm (roughly 28 mm²). That’s less than one-eighth of the GF5’s surface! Here’s the visual breakdown:

A larger sensor very often translates to better image quality, especially in low light and for dynamic range. The GF5 also boasts Panasonic’s Venus Engine FHD processor, efficient noise reduction, and superior color depth of 20.5 bits (versus the ZS35’s untested conventional processor). The GF5’s DxO Mark scores reflect its superiority clearly: an overall score of 50, 20.5 color depth, and respectable dynamic range of 10 EV. ZS35’s DxO data is unavailable, but small sensor compacts historically lag behind here.

Real-world test images (below) show the GF5 producing more detailed, cleaner images with better highlight retention, especially in challenging conditions:

The ZS35’s 16MP sensor impresses with resolution but struggles with ISO above 800, introducing noise and softness, particularly evident in shadows.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching the Moment

Fast and accurate autofocus is a must - especially for wildlife, sports, or street photography.

GF5 employs a contrast-detection AF system with 23 focus points and face detection, continuous AF, and tracking capabilities. It can shoot continuously at 4 frames per second (fps). The system is fairly standard for entry-level mirrorless but decent enough to track moving subjects in good light.

ZS35, though more compact, boasts a slightly faster 10 fps burst shooting, albeit with a simpler AF system of 21 focus points, contrast-detect only, with center-weighted AF predominance. The autofocus speed is brisk but can hesitate in low contrast or dim conditions - no surprise given the smaller sensor and lens aperture limits.

Neither has phase-detect autofocus or advanced eye/animal AF, so wildlife photographers needing pinpoint speed and tracking will find limitations regardless.

For casual sports or street photography, ZS35’s speed is an advantage, but GF5’s larger sensor gives more creative latitude and consistent AF performance across scenarios.

Lens Flexibility: One Lens or Many?

The GF5’s Micro Four Thirds mount opens a world of possibilities - prime fast glass for dreamy portraits, weather-sealed zooms for landscapes, even specialized macro lenses. This extensive lens ecosystem makes the GF5 not just a camera, but a system that can grow with your skills and ambition.

ZS35 uses a fixed 24-480mm (20x zoom) lens with F3.3-6.4 aperture range. That is an impressively versatile range from wide-angle to super-telephoto, fantastic for travel when changing lenses is inconvenient. The lens incorporates optical image stabilization to mitigate camera shake, which the GF5 lacks in-body (though stabilization often comes from native lenses or tripods).

The fixed lens, however, restricts optical quality choices and creativity - no swapping for a fast prime for portraits or ultra-wide vision. It demands compromises: narrower apertures at telephoto lengths can hamper low-light shooting or background blur.

Display and User Interface

Both cameras have 3-inch LCDs, but their characteristics diverge:

GF5’s display is a fixed 3-inch TFT touchscreen with 920k-dot resolution and wide viewing angles, enabling intuitive touch focus and menu navigation. This makes selecting focus points and changing settings faster and more tactile - a noteworthy feature in the era when touchscreens were novel.

ZS35 offers a tilting 3-inch TFT LCD with 460k dots resolution, which folds upward for low-angle or selfies but lacks touch capabilities. Its anti-reflective coating (AR) aids visibility in bright conditions, but the lower resolution results in less crisp menu and image review.

Here's a comparative look at the rear screens:

GF5’s superior screen resolution and touchscreen edge it ahead for operational ease, especially in bright environments or when precise manual adjustments are needed.

Video Capability: Moving Pictures Potential

Neither camera is a video monster – but what’s on offer is serviceable for casual video shooters.

GF5 records Full HD 1920 x 1080p at 60/50 fps in AVCHD or MPEG-4 format. Thanks to the MFT sensor, video quality is quite respectable with decent shallow depth of field and color fidelity. There’s no microphone input, so audio quality is limited to the built-in mono mic.

ZS35 captures Full HD at 30 fps only, with MPEG-4 compression. Optical image stabilization helps video steadiness. There’s likewise no audio input/output for external mics or headphones, limiting professional use.

Neither supports advanced video features like 4K capture, high-bitrate profiles, or focus peaking, so expect basic consumer-level video performance.

Battery Life and Storage

GF5’s battery life is rated at 360 shots per charge (CIPA standard), which in my hands translates to about a day’s shooting with moderate use - not stellar but manageable with spares for longer sessions.

ZS35 lacks official battery life data, but compact superzooms typically manage fewer shots owing to power-hungry zoom motorizations and continuous LCD use. You might expect around 200-250 shots per charge under normal conditions.

Both accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, with single slots - no dual-card redundancy for pros here.

Weather-Sealing and Build Quality

Neither camera boasts environmental sealing or rugged construction. Both are prone to dust and moisture ingress, which could be a concern for adventurous photographers shooting outdoors in challenging conditions.

In terms of build quality, GF5 feels slightly more robust with its metal chassis accents (typical of Panasonic MFT bodies), while ZS35 leans plastic and light to maintain compactness.

Connectivity and Extras

ZS35 includes built-in wireless connectivity, allowing easy photo sharing and remote control via smartphone apps - a forward-thinking touch for its day and a plus for social shooters.

GF5 lacks wireless features, relying on USB 2.0 and HDMI output. No Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, which now feels dated, but was common at launch time in 2012.

Neither camera has GPS or NFC, limiting geotagging or instant pairing conveniences.

Use Case Scenarios: Who Will Enjoy Each Camera Most?

Portrait Photography

GF5:

• Larger sensor enables better skin tone rendition, softer bokeh with fast prime lenses.
• Face detection autofocus helps nail sharp eye focus.
• Manual focus and aperture priority allow creative control over depth of field.

ZS35:

• Limited by small sensor and variable aperture lens.
• Acceptable for casual portraits but lacks bokeh charm.
• Face detection is present but limited flexibility.

Portrait Winner: GF5. Its sensor and lens options make portraits more enjoyable and versatile.

Landscape Photography

GF5:

• Superior dynamic range preserves detail in shadows/highlights.
• Raw shooting for maximum post-processing flexibility.
• Weather sealing absent but lenses offer quality and focal length versatility.

ZS35:

• Decent wide-angle coverage, but smaller sensor limits fine detail and dynamic range.
• No raw support limits editing latitude.
• Compact size means easy travel but image quality tradeoff.

Landscape Winner: GF5. For rich, detailed landscapes, bigger sensor wins out.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

GF5:

• Modest continuous shutter speed, contrast-detect AF tracking.
• Extensive telephoto lenses available for wildlife reach.
• AF can struggle with fast action, but flexible lenses help.

ZS35:

• Impressive 20x zoom lens covers distant subjects.
• 10 fps burst supports fast sequences.
• AF less reliable in low contrast/action scenes.

Wildlife/Sports Winner: ZS35 for casual shooters wanting one-lens superzoom; GF5 better for those investing in telephoto glass with patience.

Street Photography

GF5:

• Rangefinder styling, customizable controls, and silent shutter modes on newer models (GF5 lacks silent shutter).
• Larger and more visible than compacts.

ZS35:

• Discreet, light, and quick to grab.
• Tilting screen aids shooting from creative angles.
• Silent aperture dialing avoids fuss.

Street Winner: ZS35. Its stealth and simplicity suit urban roaming.

Macro Photography

GF5:

• Compatible with macro primes and close-focusing zooms.
• Focus peaking and manual focus aids.
• No in-body stabilization means tripod often needed.

ZS35:

• Close macro range of 3cm is neat for a fixed lens.
• Optical image stabilization helps handhold shots.

Macro Winner: GF5 for serious macro work; ZS35 good for casual close-ups.

Night and Astrophotography

GF5:

• Higher maximum ISO (12800 native) and better noise handling.
• Manual exposure modes allow long shutter times.

ZS35:

• Max ISO 3200 (boosted 6400) with high noise.
• Limited manual controls.

Night Winner: GF5 hands down for cleaner results and control.

Travel Photography

GF5:

• Versatile, high image quality, but size and lens choices can be bulky.
• Battery life and lack of wireless may hinder convenience.

ZS35:

• Ultra-compact, mighty zoom range perfect for “one camera, all scenes” travel.
• Built-in wireless for social sharing.

Travel Winner: ZS35. The convenience and zoom versatility make ZS35 a travel champ.

Professional Work

Neither camera meets professional standard in full, but:

GF5:

• Raw support, excellent lens range, manual controls suit beginner pros.
• Build quality and connectivity lag.

ZS35:

• No raw, limited controls, compact design not industry-grade.

Pro Winner: GF5, but serious pros will seek higher-tier models.

The Value Equation: What’s the Real Price Tag?

At launch, GF5 was around $600, whereas ZS35 retails closer to $300. You pay nearly double for GF5’s sensor size, lens flexibility, and image quality gains.

Are these gains worth the price? It depends.

• Enthusiasts investing time in learning lenses and want quality: GF5
• Casual shooters, travelers, and social sharers needing all-in-one compact: ZS35

The GF5 has aged, but its system and image quality hold merit. The ZS35 remains a viable compact superzoom for those prioritizing portability and reach.

Final Performance Scores Recap

Here’s an overview of their key attributes:

And a deeper dive into performance per photographic genre:

Conclusion: Your Next Camera Pick

The Panasonic Lumix GF5 impresses for image quality, lens versatility, and creative control, making it a worthy entry to mirrorless photography despite its age. It rewards patience and willingness to invest in glass, excels in portraits, landscapes, and low light.

The Panasonic ZS35 is a savvy traveler’s and street photographer’s compact companion, packing a massive zoom range with stabilization into a small, easy-to-carry package. It’s less about ultimate image quality and more about flexibility and speed in a pinch.

If you want to unlock your creative potential and quality, the GF5 is your camera. If you want one convenient camera for every occasion, with a monster zoom, the ZS35 is the camera to grab.

Ask yourself: What’s your style? What do you shoot most? And how much fuss do you want with gear? Answer those honestly, and you’ll find your answer here.

Thanks for reading! Want me to test more cameras or lenses? Drop your gear wish list - I’m always up for the next photographic adventure.