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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5R

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5R Key Specs

Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
Sony NEX-5R
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-5N
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-5T
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5R Overview

Here is a thorough review of the Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5R, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FH5 (16MP) and the NEX-5R (16MP) is pretty close but the FH5 (1/2.3") and NEX-5R (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The FH5 was revealed 20 months earlier than the NEX-5R which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a in depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the FH5 grades versus the NEX-5R in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 FH5 NEX-5R 

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

 NEX-5R FH5 
IntroducedAugust 2012January 2011Fresher by 20 months
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

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

 FH5 NEX-5R 
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5R Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FH5 has outside measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5R has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5R in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the FH5 and the NEX-5R.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5R size comparison

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

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

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5R Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to see the contrast in sensor sizing purely by researching specs. The graphic here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the FH5 and NEX-5R.

All in all, both the cameras posses the exact same megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizing. The FH5 features the smaller sensor which should make obtaining shallower DOF more challenging. The older FH5 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5R sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5R Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-5R Portrait photography factors
34
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
74
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FH5
Street photography with Sony NEX-5R
67
image stabilization (Optical)
features touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
provides touch to focus
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-5R Sports photography highlights
40
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
68
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking focus
comes with phase detect auto focus
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Travel photography factors
Sony NEX-5R Travel photography factors
71
lighter than competition in class (121g)
features touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
73
provides touch to focus
resolution is good (16MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-5R Landscape photography features
38
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
75
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-5R Vlogging advice
33
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (121g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic jack
31
touch screen
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing microphone jack
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-5R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Sony NEX-5R
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Sony Alpha NEX-5R
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Sony Alpha NEX-5R
Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-01-05 2012-08-29
Body design 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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 99
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.30 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 121g (0.27 lb) 276g (0.61 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 78
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 910
Other
Battery life 260 images 330 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $169 $750