Panasonic FP8 vs Sony NEX-5

Following is a extended overview of the Panasonic FP8 versus Sony NEX-5, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FP8 (12MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the FP8 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FP8 was launched 10 months prior to the NEX-5 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FP8 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a complete comparison, below is a quick summary of how the FP8 grades versus the NEX-5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 & Sony Alpha NEX-5. The complete galleries are provided at Panasonic FP8 Gallery & Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FP8 enjoys physical dimensions of 96mm x 60mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") along with a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FP8 versus Sony NEX-5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the FP8 versus the NEX-5.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FP8 and NEX-5 is 95 and 89 respectively.

Typically, it's difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes only by reading through a spec sheet. The image underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FP8 and NEX-5.

Clearly, the two cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FP8 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony NEX-5 will resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged FP8 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.