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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS7

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 front
Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
33
Overall
34

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS7 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
  • Launched April 2012
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF3
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF6
Panasonic ZS7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 218g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ10
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS8
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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS7 Overview

The following is a complete analysis of the Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic ZS7, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are designed by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the GF5 (12MP) and the ZS7 (12MP) is fairly close but the GF5 (Four Thirds) and ZS7 (1/2.3") boast different sensor measurements.

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The GF5 was unveiled 9 months after the ZS7 so they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS7 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the GF5 scores against the ZS7 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Panasonic ZS7

 GF5 ZS7 
RevealedApril 2012July 2011Newer by 9 months
Manually focus More exact focus
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS7 over the Panasonic GF5

 ZS7 GF5 

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic ZS7

 GF5 ZS7 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF5 provides external dimensions 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 ZS7 has measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic ZS7 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the GF5 compared to the ZS7.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS7 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GF5 and ZS7 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS7 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions just by looking through technical specs. The picture below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the GF5 and ZS7.

As you have seen, each of these cameras feature the identical megapixels but different sensor dimensions. The GF5 uses the larger sensor which will make obtaining shallower depth of field easier. The more modern GF5 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS7 as a Portrait photography camera
55
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
21
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS7 Street photography highlights
70
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
features touch to focus
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (218g)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GF5
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS7
40
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
low frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
lacks phase detect AF
27
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS7 Travel photography information
61
features touch to focus
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
63
lighter than others (218g)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
no Time Lapse function
resolution not great (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS7 Landscape photography advice
59
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
38
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS7 as a Vlogging camera
32
has touchscreen
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
missing microphone support
30
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (218g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic ZS7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ10
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-04-05 2011-07-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 160 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD AVCHD Lite
Mic 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 267 grams (0.59 lb) 218 grams (0.48 lb)
Physical 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 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 photos -
Style of battery 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
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $600 $350