Panasonic FH1 vs Sony NEX-5N

The following is a extended review of the Panasonic FH1 versus Sony NEX-5N, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the FH1 (12MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the FH1 (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizes.

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The FH1 was launched 21 months before the NEX-5N making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH1 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a in depth comparison, below is a short summation of how the FH1 grades against the NEX-5N in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1 and Sony Alpha NEX-5N. The complete galleries are provided at Panasonic FH1 Gallery and Sony NEX-5N Gallery.

For those who are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FH1 features external measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 163 grams (0.36 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5N has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FH1 versus Sony NEX-5N in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the FH1 vs the NEX-5N.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the FH1 and NEX-5N is 95 and 89 respectively.

In many cases, it's hard to see the difference between sensor dimensions purely by looking at specifications. The pic here might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the FH1 and NEX-5N.

Plainly, the 2 cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FH1 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony NEX-5N will resolve extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The more aged FH1 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.