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Panasonic GH5 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
59
Imaging
60
Features
89
Overall
71
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Panasonic GH5 vs Panasonic S2 Key Specs

Panasonic GH5
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 725g - 139 x 98 x 87mm
  • Revealed January 2017
  • Older Model is Panasonic GH4
  • Successor is Panasonic GH5 II
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • 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 GH5 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Panasonic GH5 versus Panasonic S2, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both designed by Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the GH5 (20MP) and S2 (14MP) and the GH5 (Four Thirds) and S2 (1/2.3") have different sensor dimensions.

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The GH5 was manufactured 5 years after the S2 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GH5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short overview of how the GH5 grades versus the S2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH5 over the Panasonic S2

 GH5 S2 
ReleasedJanuary 2017January 2012More modern by 61 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1620k230kCrisper screen (+1390k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Panasonic GH5

 S2 GH5 

Common features in the Panasonic GH5 and Panasonic S2

 GH5 S2 

Panasonic GH5 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH5 offers exterior dimensions of 139mm x 98mm x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") along with a weight of 725 grams (1.60 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S2 has sizing of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") having a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GH5 versus Panasonic S2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the GH5 versus the S2.

Panasonic GH5 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GH5 and S2 is 59 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic GH5 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH5 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reading technical specs. The pic underneath should offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH5 and S2.

As you have seen, both the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The GH5 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic GH5 will offer you more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The younger GH5 should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH5 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH5 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH5 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Portrait photography camera
76
has manual focus
good MP (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
33
good megapixels (14MP)
supports face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH5 Street photography information
Panasonic S2 Street photography information
74
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch focus
environment proof
great high ISO (25,600)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (112 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Sports photography camera
68
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
environment proof
not so great battery life (410 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
39
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
better than average battery life (280 per charge)
max fps low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH5 Travel photography info
Panasonic S2 Travel photography info
68
environment proof
has bluetooth
comes with touch focus
good MP (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery life (410 CIPA)
70
better than average battery life (280 per charge)
lighter than average (112g)
good megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH5 Landscape photography details
Panasonic S2 Landscape photography details
75
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
2 card slots
not so great battery life (410 shots)
41
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
better than average battery life (280 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH5 Vlogging info
Panasonic S2 Vlogging info
75
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
does have external mic support
32
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than average (112g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone socket
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Panasonic GH5 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH5 and Panasonic S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Class Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2017-01-04 2012-01-09
Physical type SLR-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 area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 225 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3.2" 2.7"
Resolution of display 1,620k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 3,680k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.76x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 8s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 12.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Redeye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On w/Redeye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Redeye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1(5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 725 grams (1.60 pounds) 112 grams (0.25 pounds)
Physical dimensions 139 x 98 x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 77 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 807 not tested
Other
Battery life 410 photos 280 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs; 10 secs w/3 shots) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Dual Single
Retail price $1,298 $109