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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Panasonic FH8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 123g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Released January 2012
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
  • Released June 2010
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-5N
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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Panasonic FH8 and Sony NEX-5, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FH8 (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is fairly similar but the FH8 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The FH8 was announced 20 months later than the NEX-5 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the FH8 matches up versus the NEX-5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Sony NEX-5

 FH8 NEX-5 
ReleasedJanuary 2012June 2010More recent by 20 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Panasonic FH8

 NEX-5 FH8 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH8 and Sony NEX-5

 FH8 NEX-5 
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FH8 features outside measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5 has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FH8 and Sony NEX-5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the FH8 compared to the NEX-5.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FH8 and NEX-5 is 96 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements simply by going over technical specs. The photograph here may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the FH8 and NEX-5.

As you can tell, both of those cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The FH8 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Panasonic FH8 will offer more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The fresher FH8 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Portrait photography advice
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography advice
34
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Street photography factors
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (123g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
76
screen tilts
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Sports photography camera
40
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
has tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
52
good resolution (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than competition (123 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
59
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography factors
43
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
68
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
good resolution (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging factors
33
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
lighter than competition (123g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone jack
28
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no external mic socket
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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH8 and Sony NEX-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-01-09 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.5-6.4 -
Macro focusing range 4cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 AVCHD
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 123 gr (0.27 lbs) 287 gr (0.63 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs 330 photographs
Battery type 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
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $149 $599