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Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ5 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
  • Superseded the Panasonic GH1
  • New Model is Panasonic GH3
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Revealed July 2012
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Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ5, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both created by Panasonic. The resolution of the GH2 (16MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is pretty similar but the GH2 (Four Thirds) and SZ5 (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

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The GH2 was manufactured 16 months before the SZ5 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the GH2 scores against the SZ5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Panasonic SZ5

 GH2 SZ5 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Panasonic GH2

 SZ5 GH2 
RevealedJuly 2012March 2011Fresher by 16 months

Common features in the Panasonic GH2 and Panasonic SZ5

 GH2 SZ5 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH2 features outer measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") and a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ5 has sizing of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the GH2 vs the SZ5.

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the GH2 and SZ5 is 70 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reviewing technical specs. The photograph underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the GH2 and SZ5.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GH2 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic GH2 will deliver more detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The older GH2 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH2
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ5
70
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
34
MP count decent (14MP)
offers face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Street photography factors
Panasonic SZ5 Street photography factors
68
screen articulates
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (136 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Sports photography info
Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography info
46
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (330 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Travel photography info
Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography info
62
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
no Timelapse function
not so great battery power (330 CIPA)
70
lighter than competition in class (136g)
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography advice
60
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (330 per charge)
no Timelapse function
42
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Vlogging camera
71
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
has face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone jack
no image stabilization
32
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (136 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
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Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH2 and Panasonic SZ5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-03-23 2012-07-18
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 12800 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 15.60 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 442 gr (0.97 lb) 136 gr (0.30 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots 250 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $1,000 $195