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Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS45 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
  • Released March 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GH1
  • Replacement is Panasonic GH3
Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Released January 2015
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS40
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS50
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Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

Here is a complete assessment of the Panasonic GH2 versus Panasonic ZS45, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both manufactured by Panasonic. The image resolution of the GH2 (16MP) and the ZS45 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the GH2 (Four Thirds) and ZS45 (1/2.3") use different sensor measurements.

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The GH2 was revealed 4 years prior to the ZS45 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the GH2 matches up versus the ZS45 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Panasonic ZS45

 GH2 ZS45 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Panasonic GH2

 ZS45 GH2 
ReleasedJanuary 2015March 2011Fresher by 46 months
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH2 and Panasonic ZS45

 GH2 ZS45 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH2 enjoys external dimensions 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 ZS45 has measurements of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GH2 versus Panasonic ZS45 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the GH2 against the ZS45.

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the GH2 and ZS45 is 70 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing simply by looking at specs. The photograph here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH2 and ZS45.

All in all, each of the cameras posses the exact same resolution albeit different sensor sizing. The GH2 has got the bigger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow depth of field simpler. The older GH2 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Portrait photography camera
70
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW files
37
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH2 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Street photography camera
68
fully articulated screen
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
69
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (249 grams)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GH2
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS45
46
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery life (330 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
55
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (350 CIPA)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography information
62
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse function
terrible battery life (330 per charge)
71
better than average battery power (350 CIPA)
lighter than competition (249g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Landscape photography camera
60
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery life (330 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
47
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
better than average battery power (350 shots)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS45 Vlogging advice
71
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have microphone jack
lack of image stabilization
34
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (249 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
missing external mic socket
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Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH2 and Panasonic ZS45
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-03-23 2015-01-06
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 21
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 15.60 m 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 442 gr (0.97 lbs) 249 gr (0.55 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 pictures 350 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $1,000 $300