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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5N 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
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Announced October 2011
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-5
  • New Model is Sony NEX-5R
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

In this write-up, we will be matching up the Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5N, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FH5 (16MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is relatively similar but the FH5 (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) possess different sensor dimensions.

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The FH5 was unveiled 9 months prior to the NEX-5N and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick summation of how the FH5 grades vs the NEX-5N with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Sony NEX-5N

 FH5 NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Panasonic FH5

 NEX-5N FH5 
AnnouncedOctober 2011January 2011Fresher by 9 months
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Sony NEX-5N

 FH5 NEX-5N 
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FH5 features outside measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5N has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5N in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use during that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the FH5 versus the NEX-5N.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the FH5 and NEX-5N is 96 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing just by going over specs. The visual here will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the FH5 and NEX-5N.

As you can plainly see, both cameras enjoy the same exact MP albeit different sensor sizing. The FH5 features the tinier sensor which should make getting shallow DOF harder. The older FH5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography info
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography info
34
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
73
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FH5
Street photography with Sony NEX-5N
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus via touch
lighter than competitors (121 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
comes with touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography highlights
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
58
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great battery pack (460 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FH5
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5N
71
lighter than competitors (121 grams)
comes with focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
70
great battery pack (460 CIPA)
comes with touch focus
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of Timelapse function
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography highlights
38
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
71
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (460 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Vlogging features
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging features
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors (121g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic socket
33
touchscreen functionality
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
lack of microphone support
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Sony NEX-5N
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Also called Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-01-05 2011-10-03
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor 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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 121 gr (0.27 pounds) 269 gr (0.59 pounds)
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 77
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1079
Other
Battery life 260 images 460 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 shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $169 $550