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Panasonic S5 vs Sony A6400

Portability
60
Imaging
76
Features
92
Overall
82
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 front
 
Sony Alpha a6400 front
Portability
83
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Panasonic S5 vs Sony A6400 Key Specs

Panasonic S5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.0" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 714g - 133 x 97 x 82mm
  • Released August 2020
  • Replacement is Panasonic S5 II
Sony A6400
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Bump to 102400)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 403g - 120 x 67 x 50mm
  • Launched January 2019
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Panasonic S5 vs Sony A6400 Overview

Here, we are looking at the Panasonic S5 vs Sony A6400, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the S5 (24MP) and the A6400 (24MP) is fairly close but the S5 (Full frame) and A6400 (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The S5 was revealed 20 months after the A6400 making them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic S5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A6400 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the S5 scores against the A6400 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S5 over the Sony A6400

 S5 A6400 
LaunchedAugust 2020January 2019More modern by 20 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1840k922kClearer display (+918k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A6400 over the Panasonic S5

 A6400 S5 

Common features in the Panasonic S5 and Sony A6400

 S5 A6400 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display size3.0"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Panasonic S5 vs Sony A6400 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic S5 offers outer measurements of 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") and a weight of 714 grams (1.57 lbs) whilst the Sony A6400 has measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 50mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 403 grams (0.89 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic S5 vs Sony A6400 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the S5 against the A6400.

Panasonic S5 vs Sony A6400 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the S5 and A6400 is 60 and 83 respectively.

Panasonic S5 vs Sony A6400 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S5 vs Sony A6400 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes only by looking through technical specs. The pic here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the S5 and A6400.

As you have seen, the two cameras come with the identical MP but not the same sensor sizes. The S5 comes with the larger sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field less difficult. The newer S5 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic S5 vs Sony A6400 sensor size comparison

Panasonic S5 vs Sony A6400 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S5 vs Sony A6400 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic S5
Portrait photography with Sony A6400
85
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
81
you can focus manually
MP count good (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic S5
Street photography with Sony A6400
78
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
features touch focus
environment sealing
very good high ISO (51,200)
81
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
supports touch focus
weather proofing
above average high ISO (32,000)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S5 Sports photography factors
Sony A6400 Sports photography factors
81
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has no phase detect autofocus
76
MP count good (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic S5 Travel photography info
Sony A6400 Travel photography info
79
environment sealing
has bluetooth
features touch focus
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
87
weather proofing
has bluetooth
supports touch focus
MP count good (24MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A6400 as a Landscape photography camera
86
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Leica L mount)
screen is a decent size (3.0 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
does not have low pass filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
has double storage slots
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
MP count good (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (32,000)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A6400 as a Vlogging camera
79
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external microphone port
80
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
has face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external microphone socket
lack of image stabilization
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Panasonic S5 vs Sony A6400 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S5 and Sony A6400
 Panasonic Lumix DC-S5Sony Alpha a6400
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Sony Alpha a6400
Category Pro Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2020-08-14 2019-01-15
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 35.6 x 23.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 847.3mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 6000 x 4000 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 51200 32000
Maximum enhanced ISO 204800 102400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 225 425
Lens
Lens mount type Leica L Sony E
Number of lenses 31 121
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3.0" 3"
Display resolution 1,840k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/8000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per sec 11.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Off, auto, on, slow sync, rear sync, redeye reduction, wireless, hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 MPEG-4, H.264, XAVC-S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 714 gr (1.57 pounds) 403 gr (0.89 pounds)
Physical dimensions 133 x 97 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") 120 x 67 x 50mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 83
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 1431
Other
Battery life 440 photographs 410 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick DUO (UHS-I compliant)
Card slots 2 One
Pricing at release $1,999 $898