Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic ZS20

Let's look closer at the Panasonic GM5 and Panasonic ZS20, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both offered by Panasonic. The image resolution of the GM5 (16MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is fairly similar but the GM5 (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

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The GM5 was released 2 years after the ZS20 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GM5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a in-depth comparison, here is a short view of how the GM5 matches up vs the ZS20 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic GM5 Gallery & Panasonic ZS20 Gallery.

When you are looking to carry around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GM5 enjoys external measurements of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS20 has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

See the Panasonic GM5 and Panasonic ZS20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the GM5 against the ZS20.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the GM5 and ZS20 is 91 and 92 respectively.

Often, it is very tough to picture the gap between sensor sizes simply by reviewing specs. The image below might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the GM5 and ZS20.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The GM5 due to its larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic GM5 will deliver extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The fresher GM5 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.