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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Released January 2011
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FS18
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Updated by Sony NEX-5N
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

The following is a in depth comparison of the Panasonic FH5 and Sony NEX-5, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FH5 (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is very similar but the FH5 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The FH5 was announced 8 months after the NEX-5 and they are of a similar generation. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise overview of how the FH5 scores against the NEX-5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Sony NEX-5

 FH5 NEX-5 
LaunchedJanuary 2011June 2010Newer by 8 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Panasonic FH5

 NEX-5 FH5 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Sony NEX-5

 FH5 NEX-5 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FH5 provides outer dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") along with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FH5 and Sony NEX-5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the FH5 and the NEX-5.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FH5 and NEX-5 is 96 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions just by going over technical specs. The picture underneath should provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH5 and NEX-5.

As you have seen, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The FH5 having a tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Panasonic FH5 will offer you greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The newer FH5 will have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FH5
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5
34
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
72
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Street photography highlights
67
image stabilization (Optical)
features touch focus
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Sports photography advice
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography advice
40
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
52
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography highlights
71
lighter than others in class (121g)
features touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
59
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography highlights
38
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
68
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3")
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Vlogging camera
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
lighter than others in class (121g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic port
28
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing external microphone socket
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Sony NEX-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Also called as Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-01-05 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IV Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 121 gr (0.27 lb) 287 gr (0.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 69
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 796
Other
Battery life 260 images 330 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $169 $599