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Panasonic GX9 vs Sony a5100

Portability
82
Imaging
61
Features
80
Overall
68
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
66
Features
74
Overall
69

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony a5100 Key Specs

Panasonic GX9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 407g - 124 x 72 x 47mm
  • Introduced February 2018
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Superseded the Sony a5000
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Panasonic GX9 vs Sony a5100 Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Panasonic GX9 and Sony a5100, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the GX9 (20MP) and the a5100 (24MP) is very well matched but the GX9 (Four Thirds) and a5100 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The GX9 was revealed 3 years later than the a5100 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a short overview of how the GX9 matches up against the a5100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX9 over the Sony a5100

 GX9 a5100 
RevealedFebruary 2018August 2014More recent by 43 months
Display resolution1240k922kSharper display (+318k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Panasonic GX9

 a5100 GX9 

Common features in the Panasonic GX9 and Sony a5100

 GX9 a5100 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GX9 has got physical measurements of 124mm x 72mm x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") having a weight of 407 grams (0.90 lbs) and the Sony a5100 has measurements of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GX9 and Sony a5100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the GX9 versus the a5100.

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GX9 and a5100 is 82 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to see the difference between sensor measurements purely by looking at specs. The visual below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the GX9 and a5100.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GX9 having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Sony a5100 will give you greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images far more aggressively. The newer GX9 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Portrait photography advice
Sony a5100 Portrait photography advice
76
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
72
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Street photography info
Sony a5100 Street photography info
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
offers touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
82
screen tilts
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
provides focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Sports photography highlights
Sony a5100 Sports photography highlights
73
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
bad battery power (260 shots)
68
megapixel count decent (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
great battery life (400 shots)
comes with phase detect AF
low fps (6.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Travel photography information
Sony a5100 Travel photography information
71
connects via bluetooth
offers touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
built-in flash
bad battery power (260 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
80
great battery life (400 shots)
provides focus via touch
megapixel count decent (24MP)
built-in flash
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Landscape photography features
Sony a5100 Landscape photography features
77
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have low pass filter
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
bad battery power (260 CIPA)
79
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
megapixel count decent (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (400 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Vlogging info
Sony a5100 Vlogging info
35
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of mic jack
34
touchscreen
features face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
lack of external microphone socket
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Panasonic GX9 vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX9 and Sony a5100
 Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9Sony Alpha a5100
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 Sony Alpha a5100
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2018-02-13 2014-08-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 49 179
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,240 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,760 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO 200) 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 407 gr (0.90 pounds) 283 gr (0.62 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 72 x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1347
Other
Battery life 260 photographs 400 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 photos over 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $1,000 $448