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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Introduced October 2011
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-5R
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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5N, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the FS15 (12MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the FS15 (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The FS15 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the NEX-5N and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the FS15 matches up vs the NEX-5N for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Sony NEX-5N

 FS15 NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Panasonic FS15

 NEX-5N FS15 
IntroducedOctober 2011January 2009More recent by 33 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FS15 and Sony NEX-5N

 FS15 NEX-5N 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS15 enjoys exterior dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") and a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5N has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5N in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the FS15 compared to the NEX-5N.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS15 and NEX-5N is 95 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements just by going over technical specs. The photograph underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS15 and NEX-5N.

As you have seen, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FS15 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony NEX-5N will deliver more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images more aggressively. The older FS15 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography highlights
20
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
73
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Street photography info
Sony NEX-5N Street photography info
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
80
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
offers touch focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FS15
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5N
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
58
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good battery power (460 shots)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography highlights
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (29mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
70
good battery power (460 CIPA)
offers touch focus
good resolution (16MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FS15
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5N
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (29mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
71
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
good battery power (460 per charge)
no image stabilization
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging advice
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (29mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
missing external microphone socket
33
touchscreen
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
lack of microphone socket
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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS15 and Sony NEX-5N
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2009-01-16 2011-10-03
Physical type Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - 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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 25600
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 29-145mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 848 x 480 (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 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 136g (0.30 pounds) 269g (0.59 pounds)
Physical dimensions 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 77
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1079
Other
Battery life - 460 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $180 $550