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Panasonic G5 vs GF7

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in July 2012 and January 2015. Both the G5 and the GF7 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. The G5 has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the GF7 provides 15.8 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Panasonic G5
versus
Panasonic GF7
Panasonic G5   Panasonic GF7
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Micro Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
15.9 MP – Four Thirds sensor 15.8 MP – Four Thirds sensor
1080/60p Video 1080/60p Video
ISO 160-12,800 ISO 200-25,600
Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots) No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0" LCD – 920k dots 3.0" LCD – 1040k dots
Swivel touchscreen Tilting touchscreen
6 shutter flaps per second 5.8 shutter flaps per second
320 shots per battery charge230 shots per battery charge
120 x 83 x 71 mm, 396 g 107 x 65 x 33 mm, 266 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Panasonic G5 and the Panasonic GF7 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The G5 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the GF7 is also available in two color-versions, but different ones (black, pink).

Size Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic GF7
Compare G5 versus GF7 top
Comparison G5 or GF7 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic GF7 is considerably smaller (30 percent) than the Panasonic G5. Moreover, the GF7 is markedly lighter (33 percent) than the G5. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the G5 nor the GF7 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog. Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

Concerning battery life, the G5 gets 320 shots out of its Panasonic DMW-BLC12 battery, while the GF7 can take 230 images on a single charge of its Panasonic DMW-BLH7 power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic G5 120 mm 83 mm 71 mm 396 g 320 n Jul 2012 599ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic GF7 107 mm 65 mm 33 mm 266 g 230 n Jan 2015 499ebay.com
3.
 
Panasonic GX850 107 mm 65 mm 33 mm 269 g 210 n Jan 2017 549ebay.com
4.
 
Panasonic G7 125 mm 86 mm 77 mm 410 g 350 n May 2015 649ebay.com
5.
 
Panasonic GM5 99 mm 60 mm 36 mm 211 g 220 n Sep 2014 749ebay.com
6.
 
Panasonic G6 122 mm 85 mm 71 mm 390 g 340 n Apr 2013 599ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic GF6 111 mm 65 mm 38 mm 323 g 340 n Apr 2013 499ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic GM1 99 mm 55 mm 30 mm 204 g 230 n Oct 2013 749ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic GX7 123 mm 71 mm 55 mm 402 g 350 n Aug 2013 999ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GF5 108 mm 67 mm 37 mm 267 g 360 n Apr 2012 499ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic G3 115 mm 84 mm 47 mm 336 g 270 n May 2011 599ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic GX1 116 mm 68 mm 39 mm 318 g 320 n Nov 2011 699ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic G10 124 mm 84 mm 74 mm 388 g 380 n Mar 2010 499ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic GH2 124 mm 90 mm 76 mm 442 g 330 n Sep 2010 899ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The GF7 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 17 percent) than the G5, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a Four Thirds sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Panasonic G5 and Panasonic GF7 sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the G5 offers a slightly higher resolution of 15.9 megapixels, compared with 15.8 MP of the GF7. This megapixels advantage translates into a 0.3 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the G5 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.76μm versus 3.77μm for the GF7). Moreover, it should be noted that the GF7 is much more recent (by 2 years and 6 months) than the G5, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of individual pixels.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 160 to ISO 12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 are ISO 200 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-25600.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

G5 versus GF7 MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Panasonic G5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p21.411.661861
2.
 
Panasonic GF7 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60p22.712.387470
3.
 
Panasonic GX850 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34484K/30p23.213.358673
4.
 
Panasonic G7 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34484K/30p22.812.490471
5.
 
Panasonic GM5 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60p22.111.772166
6.
 
Panasonic G6 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p21.311.563961
7.
 
Panasonic GF6 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60i20.710.662254
8.
 
Panasonic GM1 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60i22.311.766066
9.
 
Panasonic GX7 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60p22.612.271870
10.
 
Panasonic GF5 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/60i20.510.057350
11.
 
Panasonic G3 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60i21.010.666756
12.
 
Panasonic GX1 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60p20.810.670355
13.
 
Panasonic G10 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.141152
14.
 
Panasonic GH2 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60i21.211.365560
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/60p).

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the G5 has an electronic viewfinder (1440k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the GF7 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Panasonic G5 and Panasonic GF7 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Panasonic G51440 n3.0 / 920 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
2.
 
Panasonic GF7none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/500s 5.8/s Y n
3.
 
Panasonic GX850none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/500s 10.0/s Y n
4.
 
Panasonic G72360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 7.0/s Y n
5.
 
Panasonic GM51166 n3.0 / 921 fixed Y 1/500s 5.8/s n n
6.
 
Panasonic G61440 n3.0 / 1036 swivel Y 1/4000s 7.0/s Y n
7.
 
Panasonic GF6none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.2/s Y n
8.
 
Panasonic GM1none n3.0 / 1036 fixed Y 1/500s 5.0/s Y n
9.
 
Panasonic GX72760 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/8000s 5.0/s Y Y
10.
 
Panasonic GF5none n3.0 / 920 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
11.
 
Panasonic G31440 n3.0 / 460 swivel Y 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
12.
 
Panasonic GX1optional n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.2/s Y n
13.
 
Panasonic G10202 n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
14.
 
Panasonic GH21534 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the GF7 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the G5 and the GF7 write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Panasonic G5Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
2.
 
Panasonic GF7-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
3.
 
Panasonic GX850-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
4.
 
Panasonic G7Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
5.
 
Panasonic GM5Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
6.
 
Panasonic G6Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
7.
 
Panasonic GF6-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
8.
 
Panasonic GM1-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
9.
 
Panasonic GX7Ystereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
10.
 
Panasonic GF5-stereo / mono--mini2.0---
11.
 
Panasonic G3Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
12.
 
Panasonic GX1Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
13.
 
Panasonic G10Ymono / ---mini2.0---
14.
 
Panasonic GH2Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
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It is notable that the G5 has a hotshoe, while the GF7 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Both the G5 and the GF7 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The G5 was replaced by the Panasonic G6, while the GF7 was followed by the Panasonic GX850. Further information on the features and operation of the G5 and GF7 can be found, respectively, in the Panasonic G5 Manual (free pdf) or the online Panasonic GF7 Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Panasonic G5 and the Panasonic GF7? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.


Reasons to prefer the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5:

  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/500s) to freeze action.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (320 versus 230) on a single battery charge.
  • Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in July 2012).


Advantages of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7:

  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 920k dots).
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • More compact: Is smaller (107x65mm vs 120x83mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 130g or 33 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (17 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Reflects 2 years and 6 months of technical progress since the G5 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the GF7 emerges as the winner of the match-up (8 : 6 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

G5 06:08 GF7

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Panasonic G5 and the Panasonic GF7 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the G5 or the GF7. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic G53/5+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Jul 2012 599ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic GF74/5+....4.5/54.5/5 Jan 2015 499ebay.com
3.
 
Panasonic GX850..+..76/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2017 549ebay.com
4.
 
Panasonic G74/5+ +3.5/580/1005/54.5/5 May 2015 649ebay.com
5.
 
Panasonic GM53.5/5+..77/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2014 749ebay.com
6.
 
Panasonic G64/5+ +....5/54.5/5 Apr 2013 599ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic GF6..+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Apr 2013 499ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic GM13/5+..78/1005/54.5/5 Oct 2013 749ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic GX74/5+..79/1005/55/5 Aug 2013 999ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GF53/5......4.5/54.5/5 Apr 2012 499ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic G33/5+ +..75/1004.5/55/5 May 2011 599ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic GX13/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Nov 2011 699ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic G103/5....70/1004/54/5 Mar 2010 499ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic GH25/5+ +..79/1004.5/55/5 Sep 2010 899ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic GF7

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Panasonic G5 Panasonic GF7
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date July 2012 January 2015
    Launch Price USD 599 USD 499
    Sensor Specs Panasonic G5 Panasonic GF7
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 15.9 Megapixels 15.8 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4608 x 3456 pixels 4592 x 3448 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.76 μm 3.77 μm
    Pixel Density 7.08 MP/cm2 7.04 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 160 - 12,800 ISO 200 - 25,600 ISO
    ISO Boost no Enhancement 100 - 25,600 ISO
    Image Processor Venus VII FHD Venus
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 61 ..
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.4 ..
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 11.6 ..
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 618 ..
    Screen Specs Panasonic G5 Panasonic GF7
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder no viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.70x
    Viewfinder Resolution 1440k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 920k dots 1040k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Tilting screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Panasonic G5 Panasonic GF7
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/500s
    Continuous Shooting 6 shutter flaps/s 5.8 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterno E-Shutterup to 1/16000s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Panasonic G5 Panasonic GF7
    External Flash Hotshoe no Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI micro HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication no NFC NFC built-in
    Body Specs Panasonic G5 Panasonic GF7
    Battery Type Panasonic DMW-BLC12 Panasonic DMW-BLH7
    Battery Life (CIPA)320 shots per charge230 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 120 x 83 x 71 mm
    (4.7 x 3.3 x 2.8 in)
    107 x 65 x 33 mm
    (4.2 x 2.6 x 1.3 in)
    Camera Weight 396 g (14.0 oz) 266 g (9.4 oz)
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