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Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
62
Imaging
60
Features
90
Overall
72
Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Panasonic G9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 658g - 137 x 97 x 92mm
  • Announced November 2017
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Released October 2011
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-5
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-5R
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Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5N, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the G9 (20MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the G9 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5N (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The G9 was announced 6 years after the NEX-5N which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic G9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the G9 grades versus the NEX-5N with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G9 over the Sony NEX-5N

 G9 NEX-5N 
ReleasedNovember 2017October 2011More modern by 75 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k920kSharper display (+120k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Panasonic G9

 NEX-5N G9 

Common features in the Panasonic G9 and Sony NEX-5N

 G9 NEX-5N 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic G9 features physical dimensions of 137mm x 97mm x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") having a weight of 658 grams (1.45 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5N has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5N in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the G9 and the NEX-5N.

Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the G9 and NEX-5N is 62 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor sizes purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the G9 and NEX-5N.

Clearly, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The G9 having a tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Panasonic G9 will offer you extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics way more aggressively. The newer G9 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G9 Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography details
76
you can focus manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
73
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G9 Street photography info
Sony NEX-5N Street photography info
75
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
supports focus by touch
weather sealing
very good high ISO (25,600)
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
has touch to focus
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G9 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Sports photography camera
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
high max frames per second (20.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather sealing
low battery power (400 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
58
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
better than average battery (460 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic G9 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Travel photography camera
70
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
supports focus by touch
good resolution (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
low battery power (400 shots)
70
better than average battery (460 per charge)
has touch to focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G9 Landscape photography details
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography details
76
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
no low pass filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
has double storage slots
low battery power (400 CIPA)
71
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (460 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G9 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging highlights
76
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external mic port
33
touch screen
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have external mic jack
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Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G9 and Sony NEX-5N
 Panasonic Lumix DC-G9Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2017-11-08 2011-10-03
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 225 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 3,680 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.83x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shooting speed 20.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 658g (1.45 lb) 269g (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 137 x 97 x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 77
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1079
Other
Battery life 400 shots 460 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DMW-BLF19 NPFW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Dual 1
Cost at launch $1,500 $550