Clicky

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
62
Imaging
50
Features
82
Overall
62
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Panasonic GH5S
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 660g - 139 x 98 x 87mm
  • Revealed January 2018
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
  • Introduced October 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-5R
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Below is a extended overview of the Panasonic GH5S versus Sony NEX-5N, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the GH5S (10MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the GH5S (Four Thirds) and NEX-5N (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The GH5S was manufactured 6 years later than the NEX-5N and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GH5S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the GH5S matches up versus the NEX-5N with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH5S over the Sony NEX-5N

 GH5S NEX-5N 
IntroducedJanuary 2018October 2011More recent by 77 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1620k920kCrisper display (+700k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Panasonic GH5S

 NEX-5N GH5S 

Common features in the Panasonic GH5S and Sony NEX-5N

 GH5S NEX-5N 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH5S provides outer dimensions of 139mm x 98mm x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5N has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Panasonic GH5S versus Sony NEX-5N in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use during that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the GH5S versus the NEX-5N.

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the GH5S and NEX-5N is 62 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements only by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH5S and NEX-5N.

Clearly, both of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GH5S because of its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh harder and the Sony NEX-5N will provide you with greater detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The younger GH5S will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography highlights
62
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
73
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
exports RAW files
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Street photography highlights
68
fully articulated screen
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
environment proofing
very good high ISO (51,200)
does not have image stabilization
80
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
features touch to focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH5S as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Sports photography camera
56
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
environment proofing
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not have phase detect AF
58
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great battery power (460 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GH5S
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5N
61
environment proofing
connects via bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
display is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (10MP)
70
great battery power (460 CIPA)
features touch to focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GH5S
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5N
63
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
does not have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
has double storage slots
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
missing Timelapse function
71
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
great battery power (460 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Vlogging information
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging information
68
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
includes microphone port
does not have image stabilization
33
has touchscreen
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of external mic socket
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH5S and Sony NEX-5N
 Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5SSony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2018-01-08 2011-10-03
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine 10 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 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3680 x 2760 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 51200 25600
Maximum boosted ISO 204800 -
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 225 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3.2 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,620k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 3,680k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.76x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 12.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash modes 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
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 660g (1.46 lb) 269g (0.59 lb)
Dimensions 139 x 98 x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") 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 440 pictures 460 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DMW-BLF19 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs w/3 images) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC cards (UHS-II V60 cards supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 2 Single
Retail pricing $2,498 $550