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Panasonic ZS5

 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
 
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ8
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33

Panasonic ZS5 summary

Panasonic ZS5 is Panasonic's Small Sensor Superzoom camera originally revealed on June of 2010. The camera houses a 12MP, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a full resolution of 4000 x 3000. It is known as "Lumix DMC-TZ8" in certain markets.

The ZS5 ranks at #227 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras & overall #1013 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. Please test our Smart camera finder to find camera listings based on your personalized factors.

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Here is a chart of various factors used in the rating system.

Panasonic ZS5 family

The Panasonic ZS5 has a history of related digital cameras. Listed below, you can identify all older and the latest models along with main features.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-ZS80 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS80
ZS5 vs ZS80
24-720mm
F3.3-6.4
20MP1/2.3"2018
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS70 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS70
ZS5 vs ZS70
24-720mm
F3.3-6.4
20MP1/2.3"2017
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS60 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS60
ZS5 vs ZS60
24-720mm
F3.3-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2016
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS50 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS50
ZS5 vs ZS50
24-720mm
F3.3-6.4
12MP1/2.3"2015
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS45 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS45
ZS5 vs ZS45
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
16MP1/2.3"2015
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS35 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS35
ZS5 vs ZS35
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
16MP1/2.3"2014
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS40 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS40
ZS5 vs ZS40
24-720mm
F3.3-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2014
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS30 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS30
ZS5 vs ZS30
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS25 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS25
ZS5 vs ZS25
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
16MP1/2.3"2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS15 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS15
ZS5 vs ZS15
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS20 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS20
ZS5 vs ZS20
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
14MP1/2.3"2012
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS8 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS8
ZS5 vs ZS8
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS7 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS7
ZS5 vs ZS7
25-300mm
F3.3-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS10 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS10
ZS5 vs ZS10
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS5 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS525-300mm
F3.3-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZR3 front thumbnailPanasonic ZR3
ZS5 vs ZR3
25-200mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZR1 front thumbnailPanasonic ZR1
ZS5 vs ZR1
25-200mm
F3.3-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS3 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS3
ZS5 vs ZS3
25-300mm
F3.3-4.9
10MP1/2.3"2009

Panasonic ZS5 Pros and Cons

Here is a list of upsides and downsides of the Panasonic ZS5 based on factors that are normally regarded as important in a camera.

built-in flash
good zoom range (25-300mm 12.0 x zoom)
great reach (300mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (214 grams)
provides face detection focusing
provides tracking autofocus
quite wide (25mm)
very good minimum ISO (80)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
cannot use external flash
does not feature selfie friendly display
does not have external mic port
does not have HDMI port
does not have headphone port
does not have Time Lapse recording
lack of manual focus
lack of phase detect AF
lack of RAW files
low max shutter speed (1/1,300s)
low MP (12MP)
low resolution screen (230 k dot)
max zoom aperture not good (f4.9)
screen does not articulate
screen is small (2.7 inch)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
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Panasonic ZS5 Sensor information

The Panasonic ZS5 is run by the Venus Engine HD II processor chip. The measurement of the sensor on the Panasonic ZS5 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to capture 4000 x 3000 pixels using aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera has Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization since the latter might produce cropping.

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The CCD sensor has 12MP and delivers a native ISO range of 80 to 6400. Sadly, RAW files are not supported which means that you have less room to maneuver in post.

The image below shows the ZS5's sensor size when compared to other common sizes. The ZS5 sensor has a crop factor of 5.9 and is presented in green.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 sensor size Google AI Gemini Could Enhance iPhone Experience, Talks Suggest

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Panasonic ZS5 dimensions

Panasonic ZS5 is 0.47 lbs (214 gr or 7.55 oz) & the dimensions of the camera is 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3"). The weight of average Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 gr and the Panasonic ZS5 is less heavy as compared to its competitors.

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Listed below is a photo of the Panasonic ZS5 beside a soda so you're able to get a feel for its size.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 dimensions scale

The top view directly below will show the button layout on the ZS5.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 topview buttons dials

Panasonic ZS5 Lens information

The ZS5 features a built in lens offering a focal range of 25-300mm making it a 12.0 x zoom which is not exceptional however it could be handy in certain circumstances.

At it's widest 25mm, it has an aperture of f3.3 which is pretty sluggish and not very good for low light events and you will likely struggle to get a shallow depth of field. You will also need to up your ISO which causes noisy pictures. With the long end, 300mm is exceptional zoom and comes at f4.9 making it very sluggish and you would have to set slow shutter speeds.

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Panasonic ZS5 Connectivity

The ZS5 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Digital cameras that come with NFC and Bluetooth compatibility are able to be controlled wirelessly with smartphones. You can easily send pictures and oftentimes change settings without the hassle of connecting straight with the camera.

Certain apps also stream a Liveview and release the shutter if you are not close to the camera. If the camera provides a HDMI port, it can easily be attached to an external monitor. Virtually all cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack through the USB socket.

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Panasonic ZS5 Video information

The highest possible video quality on the Panasonic ZS5 is 1280 x 720 and you can record in Motion JPEG format. 720p is terrible for today's requirements. You should really strive for a minimum FUll HD quality for video. The body does not offer a microphone and headphone socket which means you have got absolutely no control over the sound. It is probably a better idea to find another camera should you require better sound for your video clips.

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Panasonic ZS5 Weather Sealing

There is no environment proofing on the Panasonic ZS5 so you have to be careful in rainy and dusty conditions.

Panasonic ZS5 Display and Viewfinder

The Panasonic ZS5 is equipped with a 2.7" fixed screen having a resolution of 230k dots.

Sadly the screen is not a touch screen.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 screen and viewfinder Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

The ViewFinder details for Panasonic ZS5 are the following:

  • ViewFinder None

For bright outdoor conditions that make the camera displays washed out and tricky to see, viewfinders are very useful.

Panasonic ZS5 Shutter information

Panasonic ZS5 continuous shooting speed is 2.0 frames per second. The max shutter speed is 1/1300s.

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Panasonic ZS5 Flash and Hot shoe information

Panasonic ZS5 has just in-built flash with missing external flash support.

Panasonic ZS5 Autofocusing information

Panasonic ZS5 has only Contrast Based AF & lacks Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is more faster and accurate as compared to Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera supports Face detect which can be valuable for portrait photography.

It supports 11 focus points to pick from. It also includes Tracking AF for moving objects. Panasonic ZS5 does not have manual focusing. Manual focusing ability can be good for low light conditions or you need more accurate control on depth of field.

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Panasonic ZS5 Battery life

The average Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR features the best (600) battery life for this kind of cameras.

Listed below is a list of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras that come with the strongest battery life:

Panasonic ZS5 for various categories of photography

The following illustration shows a summary of the Panasonic ZS5 for various categories of photography. To understand more, visit the specific paragraph below.

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS5

The Panasonic ZS5 has a score of 27 which is dreadful, and means the camera is simply not acceptable for portrait photos. Photographing portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor dimension, support for RAW photos & option to utilize off-camera flash.

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includes face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support

Street photography with Panasonic ZS5

Having a very good rating of 61, the Panasonic ZS5 is a fine pick for street photography. A good street photography camera offers a good balance of picture quality plus portability.

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has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (214g)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files

Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography factors

A dreadful sports photography score of 31 indicates the Panasonic ZS5 is simply not acceptable for shooting sports. A camera needs to have fantastic focusing plus fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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has image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus

Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography info

Portability is pretty important when buying a camera for travel. Over-all, the Panasonic ZS5 gets a above average 63 as a travel camera which is a good option to take on your journeys.

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lighter than others (214 grams)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)

Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography advice

For those who are planning to choose a digital camera for landscape pictures, the most essential factor will be image quality. The Panasonic ZS5 with it's dreadful grade of 33 for a landscape camera is simply not acceptable in the current marketplace.

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pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording

Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging details

A vlogging camera should really have a moving display, microphone port and ideally IBIS. Taking everything into account, the Panasonic ZS5 is simply not acceptable for vlogging as it receives a dreadful rating of 31.

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really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than others in class (214 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic port

Panasonic ZS5 Alternatives

If you need alternatives to the ZS5, here is a range of the top placed cameras that fall into the category of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The graph just below provides you a summary of the ZS5 compared to it's top scored competitors suggested earlier.

There are more cameras you may see as alternative options. To go through a extensive comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Make
Panasonic
Model type
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Also Known as
Lumix DMC-TZ8
Type
Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced
2010-06-16
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Chip
Venus Engine HD II
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area
27.7mm²
Sensor resolution
12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution
4000 x 3000
RAW format
Maximum native ISO
6400
Lowest native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points
11
Lens
Lens support
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture
f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range
3cm
Focal length multiplier
5.9
Screen
Range of display
Fixed Type
Display size
2.7 inch
Resolution of display
230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Minimum shutter speed
60s
Fastest shutter speed
1/1300s
Continuous shutter speed
2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance
5.30 m
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution
1280x720
Video format
Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
214 grams (0.47 pounds)
Physical dimensions
103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
Other
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots
1
Retail cost
$300