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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
89
Imaging
49
Features
54
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
55
Overall
46

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS45 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
  • Launched April 2012
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF3
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF6
Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Revealed January 2015
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS40
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS50
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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

In this article, we will be comparing the Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS45, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are manufactured by Panasonic. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and ZS45 (16MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and ZS45 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The GF5 was introduced 3 years earlier than the ZS45 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summary of how the GF5 matches up against the ZS45 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Panasonic ZS45

 GF5 ZS45 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Panasonic GF5

 ZS45 GF5 
RevealedJanuary 2015April 2012More modern by 33 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k920kSharper screen (+120k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic ZS45

 GF5 ZS45 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF5 comes with external measurements 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 ZS45 has measurements of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS45 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the GF5 and the ZS45.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF5 and ZS45 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes only by researching specs. The image underneath may offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the GF5 and ZS45.

All in all, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The GF5 having a bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic ZS45 will render extra detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged GF5 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS45 Portrait photography highlights
56
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
37
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
no manual focus
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS45 Street photography advice
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
has touch focus
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
69
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (249 grams)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS45 Sports photography details
41
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
low fps (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
no phase detect autofocus
56
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
good battery life (350 per charge)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Travel photography camera
61
has touch focus
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
71
good battery life (350 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (249 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
does not have Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS45 Landscape photography features
59
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
48
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good battery life (350 shots)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS45 Vlogging highlights
32
touchscreen
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no mic jack
34
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (249g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone support
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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic ZS45
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-04-05 2015-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 21
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.30 m 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 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 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 267 gr (0.59 pounds) 249 gr (0.55 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 pictures 350 pictures
Style 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
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $600 $300