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Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5R

Portability
62
Imaging
60
Features
90
Overall
72
Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5R Key Specs

Panasonic G9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 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
  • Revealed November 2017
Sony NEX-5R
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-5N
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-5T
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Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5R Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Panasonic G9 and Sony NEX-5R, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the G9 (20MP) and NEX-5R (16MP) and the G9 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5R (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

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The G9 was introduced 5 years after the NEX-5R which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic G9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summation of how the G9 matches up vs the NEX-5R in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 G9 NEX-5R 
RevealedNovember 2017August 2012More modern by 64 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k920kCrisper display (+120k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

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

 NEX-5R G9 

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

 G9 NEX-5R 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5R Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic G9 comes with external dimensions of 137mm x 97mm x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") with a weight of 658 grams (1.45 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5R has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic G9 and Sony NEX-5R in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing during that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the G9 against the NEX-5R.

Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5R size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the G9 and NEX-5R is 62 and 89 respectively.

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

Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5R Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by looking through a spec sheet. The image here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the G9 and NEX-5R.

As you can see, the 2 cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The G9 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Panasonic G9 will provide you with more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos more aggressively. The fresher G9 should have an advantage in sensor tech.

Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5R sensor size comparison

Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5R Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G9 Portrait photography advice
Sony NEX-5R Portrait photography advice
76
you can focus manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
74
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G9 Street photography details
Sony NEX-5R Street photography details
75
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
provides touch focus
environment proof
great high ISO (25,600)
80
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
includes touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G9 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5R as a Sports photography camera
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (20.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
environment proof
terrible battery power (400 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
68
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
has phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G9 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-5R Travel photography highlights
70
environment proof
supports bluetooth
provides touch focus
MP count good (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
terrible battery power (400 CIPA)
73
includes touch focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G9 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-5R Landscape photography highlights
76
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have low pass filter
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
2 card slots
terrible battery power (400 shots)
75
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G9 Vlogging info
Sony NEX-5R Vlogging info
76
selfie friendly display
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have external mic support
31
touchscreen functionality
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external mic support
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Panasonic G9 vs Sony NEX-5R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G9 and Sony NEX-5R
 Panasonic Lumix DC-G9Sony Alpha NEX-5R
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 Sony Alpha NEX-5R
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2017-11-08 2012-08-29
Physical type 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 20MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 225 99
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,040k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 3,680k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.83x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 20.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 658g (1.45 pounds) 276g (0.61 pounds)
Physical dimensions 137 x 97 x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 910
Other
Battery life 400 photos 330 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DMW-BLF19 NPFW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Dual 1
Pricing at release $1,500 $750