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Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
91
Imaging
53
Features
62
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs

Panasonic GM5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 211g - 99 x 60 x 36mm
  • Announced September 2014
  • Older Model is Panasonic GM1
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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 GM5 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Panasonic GM5 versus Panasonic SZ5, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are sold by Panasonic. The resolution of the GM5 (16MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the GM5 (Four Thirds) and SZ5 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The GM5 was brought out 2 years after the SZ5 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GM5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ5 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the GM5 matches up versus the SZ5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GM5 over the Panasonic SZ5

 GM5 SZ5 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014July 2012Newer by 27 months
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Panasonic GM5

 SZ5 GM5 

Common features in the Panasonic GM5 and Panasonic SZ5

 GM5 SZ5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic GM5 provides outside dimensions of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ5 has sizing of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GM5 versus Panasonic SZ5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at the time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the GM5 and the SZ5.

Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the GM5 and SZ5 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions only by reading through technical specs. The picture below may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the GM5 and SZ5.

As you can tell, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The GM5 because of its larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic GM5 will give you extra detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The newer GM5 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Portrait photography information
Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography information
71
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW files
34
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GM5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Street photography camera
76
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes touch to focus
lighter than competitors (211 grams)
very good high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (136g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GM5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Sports photography camera
48
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/500 seconds)
slow continuous shooting (5.8 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography highlights
71
lighter than competitors (211g)
includes touch to focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly display
70
lighter than others (136 grams)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Landscape photography details
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography details
69
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery life (220 shots)
42
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GM5
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ5
34
touchscreen capability
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (211 grams)
does not have selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
does not have microphone port
32
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than others (136g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
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Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GM5 and Panasonic SZ5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-09-15 2012-07-18
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
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 4592 x 3448 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 8s
Highest shutter speed 1/500s 1/1600s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 5.8fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 211 grams (0.47 pounds) 136 grams (0.30 pounds)
Physical dimensions 99 x 60 x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 721 not tested
Other
Battery life 220 photos 250 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DMW-BLH7 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $966 $195