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Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic LZ20

Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
Portability
71
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic LZ20 Key Specs

Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Launched March 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GH1
  • Replacement is Panasonic GH3
Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Replacement is Panasonic LZ30
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Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic LZ20 Overview

In this write-up, we will be analyzing the Panasonic GH2 and Panasonic LZ20, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both produced by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the GH2 (16MP) and the LZ20 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the GH2 (Four Thirds) and LZ20 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor size.

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The GH2 was manufactured 16 months earlier than the LZ20 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the GH2 grades versus the LZ20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Panasonic LZ20

 GH2 LZ20 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Panasonic GH2

 LZ20 GH2 
AnnouncedJuly 2012March 2011Newer by 16 months

Common features in the Panasonic GH2 and Panasonic LZ20

 GH2 LZ20 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic LZ20 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH2 features exterior dimensions of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") and a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) and the Panasonic LZ20 has sizing of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GH2 and Panasonic LZ20 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the GH2 compared to the LZ20.

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic LZ20 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the GH2 and LZ20 is 70 and 71 respectively.

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic LZ20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic LZ20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions only by checking a spec sheet. The picture here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH2 and LZ20.

Clearly, both cameras offer the same exact MP albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The GH2 contains the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallow DOF simpler. The more aged GH2 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic LZ20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic LZ20 Portrait photography highlights
70
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
36
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has face detection focus
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Street photography information
Panasonic LZ20 Street photography information
68
screen articulates fully
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
45
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
heavier than others (499 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic LZ20 Sports photography highlights
46
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery life (330 per charge)
no phase detect AF
47
great zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
good battery pack (380 CIPA)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GH2
Travel photography with Panasonic LZ20
62
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery life (330 per charge)
58
good battery pack (380 shots)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (525mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than others (499g)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GH2
Landscape photography with Panasonic LZ20
60
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery life (330 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
45
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good battery pack (380 shots)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GH2
Vlogging with Panasonic LZ20
71
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external microphone port
lack of image stabilization
25
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
heavier than others (499 grams)
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Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic LZ20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH2 and Panasonic LZ20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-03-23 2012-07-18
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip 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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-525mm (21.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-5.8
Macro focusing range - 2cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 15.60 m 6.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 442 grams (0.97 lbs) 499 grams (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 60 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 655 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 380 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $1,000 $250