Panasonic GF5 vs Sony ZV-1

Below, we are looking at the Panasonic GF5 vs Sony ZV-1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and ZV-1 (20MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and ZV-1 (1") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The GF5 was announced 9 years earlier than the ZV-1 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony ZV-1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the GF5 grades versus the ZV-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 and Sony ZV-1. The whole galleries are provided at Panasonic GF5 Gallery and Sony ZV-1 Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic GF5 has got outer dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Sony ZV-1 has specifications of 105mm x 60mm x 44mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 294 grams (0.65 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GF5 vs Sony ZV-1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the GF5 and the ZV-1.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF5 and ZV-1 is 89 and 88 respectively.

More often than not, it is very hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizing purely by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph below may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the GF5 and ZV-1.

As you can see, each of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GF5 with its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Sony ZV-1 will provide you with extra detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The older GF5 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.