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Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic S2 Key Specs

Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Older Model is Panasonic GF7
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Released January 2012
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Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Let's look closer at the Panasonic GF8 versus Panasonic S2, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are created by Panasonic. The image resolution of the GF8 (16MP) and the S2 (14MP) is fairly close but the GF8 (Four Thirds) and S2 (1/2.3") boast different sensor size.

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The GF8 was brought out 4 years later than the S2 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summation of how the GF8 matches up vs the S2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Panasonic S2

 GF8 S2 
ReleasedFebruary 2016January 2012More recent by 50 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kCrisper display (+810k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Panasonic GF8

 S2 GF8 

Common features in the Panasonic GF8 and Panasonic S2

 GF8 S2 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic GF8 enjoys outer measurements of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Panasonic S2 has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GF8 versus Panasonic S2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the GF8 vs the S2.

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF8 and S2 is 90 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor measurements simply by looking through technical specs. The visual below may give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the GF8 and S2.

As you can tell, the two cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GF8 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic GF8 will render greater detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more recent GF8 should have an edge in sensor tech.

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Portrait photography information
Panasonic S2 Portrait photography information
65
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
33
good megapixels (14MP)
provides face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Street photography highlights
Panasonic S2 Street photography highlights
80
screen tilts
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
features focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (112g)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Sports photography factors
Panasonic S2 Sports photography factors
49
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/500s)
low frames per second (5.8 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (230 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
39
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
great battery pack (280 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Travel photography info
Panasonic S2 Travel photography info
66
features focus via touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (230 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
70
great battery pack (280 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (112g)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
no Timelapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF8
Landscape photography with Panasonic S2
65
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (230 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
41
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
great battery pack (280 shots)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Vlogging features
Panasonic S2 Vlogging features
33
built-in touchscreen
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external mic socket
32
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
lighter than average in class (112 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone jack
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Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF8 and Panasonic S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2016-02-15 2012-01-09
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3448 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/500 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 5.8 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.60 m (at ISO 200) 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 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, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 266 grams (0.59 lbs) 112 grams (0.25 lbs)
Physical dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 230 images 280 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $549 $109