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Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs

Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Released February 2016
  • Old Model is Panasonic GF7
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Announced July 2012
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Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ5, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the GF8 (16MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is relatively similar but the GF8 (Four Thirds) and SZ5 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The GF8 was manufactured 3 years after the SZ5 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ5 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a thorough comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the GF8 matches up versus the SZ5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Panasonic SZ5

 GF8 SZ5 
AnnouncedFebruary 2016July 2012Newer by 44 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Panasonic GF8

 SZ5 GF8 

Common features in the Panasonic GF8 and Panasonic SZ5

 GF8 SZ5 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera often, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF8 features outside 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 SZ5 has proportions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the GF8 and the SZ5.

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF8 and SZ5 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions just by going over a spec sheet. The image underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the GF8 and SZ5.

As you can see, both of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The GF8 due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic GF8 will offer you extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more recent GF8 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Portrait photography information
Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography information
65
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
34
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF8 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Street photography camera
80
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (136g)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Sports photography features
Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography features
49
silent mode (1/16,000s)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/500s)
very slow continuous shooting (5.8 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery (230 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
low fps (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Travel photography features
Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography features
66
comes with touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
bad battery (230 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
70
lighter than average in class (136 grams)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF8
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ5
65
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
bad battery (230 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
42
really wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF8 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Vlogging camera
33
touchscreen enabled
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have external mic port
32
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (136 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic port
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Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF8 and Panasonic SZ5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2016-02-15 2012-07-18
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine -
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 16 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
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3448 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/500 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 5.8 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m (at ISO 200) 5.60 m
Flash settings 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, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 266g (0.59 lbs) 136g (0.30 lbs)
Dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 230 images 250 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $549 $195