Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Competitors

As well as being compared against other travel zooms, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 is also often compared to pro digicams and compacts. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5's top rivals come from Panasonic (such as the Lumix DMC-ZS8 and the Lumix DMC-ZS3) and Canon (such as the Powershot S100 and the ELPH 300 HS)

Generally, compared to other travel zoom competitors the Panasonic DMC-ZS5 has slightly less zoom (12x vs 16x), doesn't have a built-in GPS, has a slightly smaller screen (2.7" vs 3.0"), has a slightly lower resolution screen (230k dots vs 460k dots) and doesn't have a touch screen.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 1 year newer $159 - $271	Significant advantages of the DMC-ZS8 (vs the DMC-ZS5) More zoom: 16x vs 12x Significantly larger screen: 3.0" vs 2.7" Much faster max shutter speed: 1/4000 of a second vs 1/1300 of a second Significant disadvantages of the DMC-ZS8 (vs the DMC-ZS5) None found common strengths of the DMC-ZS8 and DMC-ZS5 Very long exposure times: 60 seconds vs 60 seconds
	Compare the DMC-ZS8 vs the DMC-ZS5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 1 year older	Significant advantages of the DMC-ZS3 (vs the DMC-ZS5) Significantly larger screen: 3.0" vs 2.7" Much faster max shutter speed: 1/2000 of a second vs 1/1300 of a second Significant disadvantages of the DMC-ZS3 (vs the DMC-ZS5) None found common strengths of the DMC-ZS3 and DMC-ZS5 Very long exposure times: 60 seconds vs 60 seconds
	Compare the DMC-ZS3 vs the DMC-ZS5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 similar age $361	Significant advantages of the DMC-ZS7 (vs the DMC-ZS5) Has a GPS Significantly larger screen: 3.0" vs 2.7" Much faster max shutter speed: 1/2000 of a second vs 1/1300 of a second Significant disadvantages of the DMC-ZS7 (vs the DMC-ZS5) None found common strengths of the DMC-ZS7 and DMC-ZS5 Very long exposure times: 60 seconds vs 60 seconds
	Compare the DMC-ZS7 vs the DMC-ZS5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 1 year newer $328	Significant advantages of the DMC-ZS10 (vs the DMC-ZS5) Has a GPS More zoom: 16x vs 12x Higher resolution movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps Significant disadvantages of the DMC-ZS10 (vs the DMC-ZS5) None found common strengths of the DMC-ZS10 and DMC-ZS5 Very long exposure times: 60 seconds vs 60 seconds
	Compare the DMC-ZS10 vs the DMC-ZS5
Panasonic Lumix ZS20 2 years newer $290 - $350	Significant advantages of the ZS20 (vs the DMC-ZS5) Much more zoom: 20x vs 12x Has a GPS Higher resolution movies: 1080p @ 60fps vs 720p @ 30fps Significant disadvantages of the ZS20 (vs the DMC-ZS5) Much shorter max exposures: 15 seconds vs 60 seconds common strengths of the ZS20 and DMC-ZS5 None found
	Compare the Lumix ZS20 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 1 year older	Significant advantages of the DMC-ZS1 (vs the DMC-ZS5) Much faster max shutter speed: 1/2000 of a second vs 1/1300 of a second Significant disadvantages of the DMC-ZS1 (vs the DMC-ZS5) Much lower true resolution: 8.6 MP vs 9.8 MP Significantly smaller sensor: 1/2.5" 5.8x4.3mm vs 1/2.3" 6.1x4.6mm common strengths of the DMC-ZS1 and DMC-ZS5 Very long exposure times: 60 seconds vs 60 seconds
	Compare the DMC-ZS1 vs the DMC-ZS5

Generally, some of the advantages of the Panasonic DMC-ZS5 compared to pro digicam competitors include: it significantly longer exposures (60 seconds vs 15 seconds).

However, on average it has a much smaller sensor (1/2.3" 6.1x4.6mm vs 1/1.7" 8.3x6.2mm), doesn't shoot RAW, has a much narrower aperture (f/3.3 vs f/2.0), records lower quality movies (720p @ 30fps vs 1080p @ 24fps) and has a significantly smaller screen (2.7" vs 3.0").

Canon Powershot S100 1 year newer $356 - $430	Significant advantages of the S100 (vs the DMC-ZS5) Shoots RAW Much larger sensor: 1/1.8" 7.5x5.5mm vs 1/2.3" 6.1x4.6mm Much wider aperture: f/2.0 vs f/3.3 Significant disadvantages of the S100 (vs the DMC-ZS5) Much shorter max exposures: 15 seconds vs 60 seconds common strengths of the S100 and DMC-ZS5 Fairly small: Compact 99x60x28 mm vs Compact 103x60x32 mm Light weight: 198 g vs 214 g Thin: 1.1" vs 1.3"
	Compare the Canon Powershot S100 vs the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 5 months newer $339	Significant advantages of the DMC-LX5 (vs the DMC-ZS5) Much larger sensor: 1/1.7" 8.3x6.2mm vs 1/2.3" 6.1x4.6mm Shoots RAW Much wider aperture: f/2.0 vs f/3.3 Significant disadvantages of the DMC-LX5 (vs the DMC-ZS5) None found common strengths of the DMC-LX5 and DMC-ZS5 Fairly small: Mid size 109x65x42 mm vs Compact 103x60x32 mm Inexpensive: $339.00 vs $297.99 Very long exposure times: 60 seconds vs 60 seconds
	Compare the DMC-LX5 vs the DMC-ZS5
Canon PowerShot S95 6 months newer $340 - $389	Significant advantages of the S95 (vs the DMC-ZS5) Much larger sensor: 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm vs 1/2.3" 6.1x4.6mm Shoots RAW Much wider aperture: f/2.0 vs f/3.3 Significant disadvantages of the S95 (vs the DMC-ZS5) Significantly worse wide angle: 28 mm vs 25 mm Much shorter max exposures: 15 seconds vs 60 seconds common strengths of the S95 and DMC-ZS5 Fairly small: Compact 99x58x29 mm vs Compact 103x60x32 mm Light weight: 193 g vs 214 g Thin: 1.2" vs 1.3"
	Compare the Canon PowerShot S95 vs the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5

Generally, some of the advantages of the Panasonic DMC-ZS5 compared to compact competitors include: it has significantly more zoom (12x vs 5x), has a slightly wider wide angle lens (25 mm vs 28 mm), takes much higher resolution photos (9.8 MP vs 4.9 MP), slightly closer macro focusing (3 cm vs 5 cm) and has boost light sensitivity (6,400 ISO vs none).

However, on average it has a significantly narrower aperture (f/3.3 vs f/2.4), records lower quality movies (720p @ 30fps vs 1080p @ 24fps), is much larger (compact 103x60x32 mm vs super compact 96x56x19 mm), doesn't record high-speed movies (none vs 240 fps) and doesn't record movies in 24p.

Canon ELPH 300 HS 1 year newer $148 - $179	Significant advantages of the 300 HS (vs the DMC-ZS5) Much smaller: Super compact 92x55x19 mm vs Compact 103x60x32 mm Significantly wider aperture: f/2.7 vs f/3.3 Higher resolution movies: 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 30fps Significant disadvantages of the 300 HS (vs the DMC-ZS5) Less zoom: 5x vs 12x Much shorter max exposures: 15 seconds vs 60 seconds common strengths of the 300 HS and DMC-ZS5 Good wide angle: 24 mm vs 25 mm Good image stabilization: Lens vs Lens Good macro capabilities: 3 cm vs 3 cm
	Compare the Canon ELPH 300 HS vs the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX8 4 years older	Significant advantages of the DMC-FX8 (vs the DMC-ZS5) Significantly smaller: Super compact 94x51x24 mm vs Compact 103x60x32 mm Wider aperture: f/2.8 vs f/3.3 Significantly lighter: 155 g vs 214 g Significant disadvantages of the DMC-FX8 (vs the DMC-ZS5) Much lower true resolution: 4.9 MP vs 9.8 MP Much worse wide angle: 35 mm vs 25 mm Significantly less zoom: 3x vs 12x common strengths of the DMC-FX8 and DMC-ZS5 Good image stabilization: Lens vs Lens
	Compare the DMC-FX8 vs the DMC-ZS5
Olympus VG120 1 year newer $117	Significant advantages of the VG120 (vs the DMC-ZS5) Much smaller: Super compact 96x56x19 mm vs Compact 103x60x32 mm Wider aperture: f/2.8 vs f/3.3 Significantly larger screen: 3.0" vs 2.7" Significant disadvantages of the VG120 (vs the DMC-ZS5) Less zoom: 5x vs 12x Worse image stabilization: Digital vs Lens Significantly worse macro capability: 7 cm vs 3 cm common strengths of the VG120 and DMC-ZS5 None found
	Compare the Olympus VG-120 vs the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Canon ELPH 100 HS 1 year newer $103 - $189	Significant advantages of the 100 HS (vs the DMC-ZS5) Higher resolution movies: 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 30fps Much smaller: Super compact 93x55x19 mm vs Compact 103x60x32 mm Supports 24p Significant disadvantages of the 100 HS (vs the DMC-ZS5) Significantly less zoom: 4x vs 12x Significantly worse wide angle: 28 mm vs 25 mm Much shorter max exposures: 15 seconds vs 60 seconds common strengths of the 100 HS and DMC-ZS5 Good image stabilization: Lens vs Lens Good macro capabilities: 3 cm vs 3 cm
	Compare the Canon ELPH 100 HS vs the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Sony Cybershot WX10 1 year newer $400 - $450	Significant advantages of the WX10 (vs the DMC-ZS5) Significantly wider aperture: f/2.4 vs f/3.3 Higher resolution movies: 1080p @ 60fps vs 720p @ 30fps Significantly smaller: Super compact 95x53x23 mm vs Compact 103x60x32 mm Significant disadvantages of the WX10 (vs the DMC-ZS5) Significantly shorter max exposures: 30 seconds vs 60 seconds common strengths of the WX10 and DMC-ZS5 Good wide angle: 24 mm vs 25 mm Good image stabilization: Lens vs Lens Long exposures: 30 seconds vs 60 seconds
	Compare the Sony Cybershot DSC-WX10 vs the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5