Panasonic S5 vs Sony NEX-7

In this article, we are matching up the Panasonic S5 and Sony NEX-7, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the S5 (24MP) and the NEX-7 (24MP) is fairly close but the S5 (Full frame) and NEX-7 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The S5 was brought out 8 years after the NEX-7 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic S5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summary of how the S5 matches up against the NEX-7 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 & Sony Alpha NEX-7. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic S5 Gallery & Sony NEX-7 Gallery.

If you are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic S5 has external measurements of 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") along with a weight of 714 grams (1.57 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-7 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Check the Panasonic S5 and Sony NEX-7 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that moment. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the S5 vs the NEX-7.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S5 and NEX-7 is 60 and 84 respectively.

Normally, it is hard to picture the gap in sensor dimensions only by viewing specifications. The picture below may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the S5 and NEX-7.

To sum up, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels but different sensor dimensions. The S5 uses the larger sensor which should make obtaining bokeh easier. The newer S5 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.