Panasonic F5 vs Sony A500
96 Imaging
38 Features
23 Overall
32
![Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 front Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-F5/Panasonic-F5-front.jpg)
![Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A500/Sony-A500-front.jpg)
63 Imaging
52 Features
52 Overall
52
Panasonic F5 vs Sony A500 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 6400
- 1280 x 720 video
- 28-140mm (F3.2-6.5) lens
- 121g - 97 x 58 x 22mm
- Released January 2013
(Full Review)
- 12MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 12800
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
- Launched August 2009
- Refreshed by Sony A560
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/maxresdefault-218x150.jpg)
Panasonic F5 vs Sony A500 Overview
Lets examine more in depth at the Panasonic F5 versus Sony A500, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the F5 (14MP) and the A500 (12MP) is fairly close but the F5 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/snapchat-218x150.jpg)
The F5 was revealed 3 years after the A500 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic F5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the F5 scores versus the A500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tiktok-218x150.jpg)
Panasonic F5 vs Sony A500 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A500. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic F5 Gallery & Sony A500 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic F5 over the Sony A500
F5 | A500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | January 2013 | ![]() | August 2009 | More modern by 41 months |
Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Panasonic F5
A500 | F5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | More exact focus | ||
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Common features in the Panasonic F5 and Sony A500
F5 | A500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Exact same display resolution |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lacking selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Lacking Touch display |
Panasonic F5 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison
When you are going to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic F5 comes with outside dimensions of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Sony A500 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).
Contrast the Panasonic F5 versus Sony A500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.![Camera Size Comparison with Lenses Camera Size Comparison with Lenses](https://pxlmag.com/db/assets/camera-size-comparison-animation.gif)
Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the F5 vs the A500.
![Panasonic F5 vs Sony A500 size comparison Panasonic F5 vs Sony A500 size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-F5-vs-Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A500-size-comparison.jpg)
Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the F5 and A500 is 96 and 63 respectively.
![Panasonic F5 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison Panasonic F5 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-F5-vs-Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A500-top-view-buttons-comparison.jpg)
Panasonic F5 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison
In many cases, its difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizes only by viewing specifications. The image underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the F5 and A500.
To sum up, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The F5 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic F5 will provide you with more detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The more modern F5 will have an advantage in sensor technology.
![Panasonic F5 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison Panasonic F5 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/sensor-compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-F5-vs-Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A500-sensor-size-comparison.png)
Panasonic F5 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder
![Panasonic F5 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison Panasonic F5 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-F5-vs-Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A500-screen-back-comparison.jpg)
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LP3_cut_13f_0212-218x150.jpg)
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ai-licence-218x150.jpg)
Street Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/photography-glossary-218x150.jpg)
Sports Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/samsung-evo-microsd-cards-featur-218x150.jpg)
Travel Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Approach-to-AI-Generated-Content-218x150.jpg)
Landscape Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/iphone-optical-stabilization-218x150.jpg)
Vlogging Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/No-Surprise-Pentax-17-Pre-Orders-218x150.jpg)
Panasonic F5 vs Sony A500 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Panasonic | Sony |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 |
Category | Small Sensor Compact | Entry-Level DSLR |
Released | 2013-01-07 | 2009-08-27 |
Body design | Compact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 27.7mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 14 megapixel | 12 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | - | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4320 x 3240 | 4272 x 2848 |
Max native ISO | 6400 | 12800 |
Lowest native ISO | 100 | 200 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch to focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Total focus points | - | 9 |
Cross type focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens zoom range | 28-140mm (5.0x) | - |
Max aperture | f/3.2-6.5 | - |
Macro focusing distance | 5cm | - |
Total lenses | - | 143 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Display diagonal | 2.7 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 230k dot | 230k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Display tech | TFT LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 95 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.53x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 8 secs | 30 secs |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/2000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shutter speed | 1.0 frames per second | 5.0 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | 5.70 m | 12.00 m |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | - | 1/160 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | - |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | None |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | - |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 121 gr (0.27 pounds) | 630 gr (1.39 pounds) |
Dimensions | 97 x 58 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") | 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | not tested | 64 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 21.8 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 11.6 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 772 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 250 photos | 520 photos |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | NP-FM500H |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | One | One |
Retail price | $100 | $638 |