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Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
54
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Panasonic GX1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 318g - 116 x 68 x 39mm
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Replacement is Panasonic GX7
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS25
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Here is a comprehensive assessment of the Panasonic GX1 and Panasonic ZS20, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both designed by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the GX1 (16MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is fairly similar but the GX1 (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") provide different sensor size.

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The GX1 was introduced 2 months prior to the ZS20 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GX1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a quick view of how the GX1 matches up versus the ZS20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX1 over the Panasonic ZS20

 GX1 ZS20 
Manually focus More precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Panasonic GX1

 ZS20 GX1 

Common features in the Panasonic GX1 and Panasonic ZS20

 GX1 ZS20 
RevealedFebruary 2012April 2012Similar generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GX1 has got physical measurements of 116mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 318 grams (0.70 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS20 has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GX1 and Panasonic ZS20 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the GX1 and the ZS20.

Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GX1 and ZS20 is 87 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing simply by going over technical specs. The visual underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the GX1 and ZS20.

As you have seen, each of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GX1 having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic GX1 will deliver more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images a good deal more aggressively.

Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GX1
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS20
71
focusing manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
exports RAW files
30
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography highlights
70
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports touch focus
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (206g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography factors
47
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low battery power (300 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
47
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (260 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GX1
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS20
65
supports touch focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse mode
low battery power (300 per charge)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
68
lighter than competition in class (206g)
provides focus by touch
decent megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (260 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography features
62
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
low battery power (300 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
42
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
terrible battery life (260 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging details
32
touchscreen capability
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
no mic socket
34
really wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (206 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic port
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Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX1 and Panasonic ZS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-02-14 2012-04-26
Body design Rangefinder-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 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3448 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.60 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest 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 (60 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 318 gr (0.70 lb) 206 gr (0.45 lb)
Physical dimensions 116 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 703 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 260 pictures
Style 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
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $228 $349