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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS8 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
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF3
  • Successor is Panasonic GF6
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Announced July 2011
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS7
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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic ZS8, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Panasonic. The resolution of the GF5 (12MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the GF5 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor size.

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The GF5 was brought out 9 months later than the ZS8 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the GF5 matches up vs the ZS8 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Panasonic ZS8

 GF5 ZS8 
AnnouncedApril 2012July 2011Fresher by 9 months
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Panasonic GF5

 ZS8 GF5 

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic ZS8

 GF5 ZS8 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF5 has got exterior 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 ZS8 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic ZS8 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the GF5 versus the ZS8.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF5 and ZS8 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizing purely by looking at a spec sheet. The visual underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF5 and ZS8.

Clearly, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GF5 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic ZS8 will resolve more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The newer GF5 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF5
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS8
55
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
30
MP count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography info
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
offers touch focus
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (210g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GF5
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS8
40
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
low frames per second (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
47
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography factors
61
offers touch focus
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
69
lighter than others (210 grams)
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF5
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS8
59
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
44
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GF5
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS8
32
touchscreen functionality
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone jack
30
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (210g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic socket
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Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Panasonic ZS8
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-04-05 2011-07-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD 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 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing 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 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.30 m 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 267g (0.59 pounds) 210g (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 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 photographs 340 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $600 $275