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Panasonic S1 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
54
Imaging
75
Features
84
Overall
78
Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Panasonic S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Panasonic S1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 1021g - 149 x 110 x 97mm
  • Released February 2019
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-5
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-5R
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Panasonic S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic S1 vs Sony NEX-5N, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the S1 (24MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the S1 (Full frame) and NEX-5N (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The S1 was released 7 years after the NEX-5N which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic S1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a short summation of how the S1 scores against the NEX-5N in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S1 over the Sony NEX-5N

 S1 NEX-5N 
RevealedFebruary 2019October 2011More modern by 90 months
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution2100k920kCrisper screen (+1180k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Panasonic S1

 NEX-5N S1 

Common features in the Panasonic S1 and Sony NEX-5N

 S1 NEX-5N 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic S1 has got external measurements of 149mm x 110mm x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") having a weight of 1021 grams (2.25 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic S1 vs Sony NEX-5N in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the S1 and the NEX-5N.

Panasonic S1 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the S1 and NEX-5N is 54 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic S1 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes simply by seeing specifications. The image here will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the S1 and NEX-5N.

Plainly, both the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The S1 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic S1 will show greater detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more modern S1 will have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic S1 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Panasonic S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S1 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography features
85
has manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/320s)
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
73
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic S1
Street photography with Sony NEX-5N
70
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
has focus by touch
weather proof
very good ISO range (51,200)
heavier than others in class (1,021 grams)
80
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
comes with touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S1 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography features
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features tracking focus
weather proof
low battery power (380 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
58
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great battery (460 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic S1 Travel photography information
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography information
59
weather proof
has bluetooth
has focus by touch
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
low battery power (380 CIPA)
heavier than others in class (1,021 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
70
great battery (460 per charge)
comes with touch to focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S1 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography factors
81
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Leica L mount)
good sized screen (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
has double storage slots
low battery power (380 CIPA)
71
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
great battery (460 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic S1
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5N
32
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect autofocus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has mic port
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
heavier than others in class (1,021g)
33
built-in touchscreen
supports face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
lack of mic port
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Panasonic S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S1 and Sony NEX-5N
 Panasonic Lumix DC-S1Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2019-02-01 2011-10-03
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.6 x 23.8mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 847.3mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6000 x 4000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 51200 25600
Highest boosted ISO 204800 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 225 25
Lens
Lens mount Leica L Sony E
Total lenses 30 121
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3.2" 3"
Resolution of display 2,100k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 5,760k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/8000s -
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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 w/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/320s 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)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes (can be charged with high-power laptop/tablet chargers or portable power banks) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 1021 grams (2.25 lbs) 269 grams (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 149 x 110 x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 95 77
DXO Color Depth score 25.2 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 14.5 12.7
DXO Low light score 3333 1079
Other
Battery life 380 pictures 460 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media - SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 2 One
Retail cost $2,498 $550