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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5R

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5R Key Specs

Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2009
Sony NEX-5R
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-5N
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5T
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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5R Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Panasonic FS15 and Sony NEX-5R, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the FS15 (12MP) and NEX-5R (16MP) and the FS15 (1/2.3") and NEX-5R (APS-C) have different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The FS15 was brought out 4 years prior to the NEX-5R and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a brief summary of how the FS15 scores vs the NEX-5R when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 FS15 NEX-5R 

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

 NEX-5R FS15 
ReleasedAugust 2012January 2009More recent by 44 months
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 FS15 NEX-5R 
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5R Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FS15 comes with exterior dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") having a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5R has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FS15 and Sony NEX-5R in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the FS15 versus the NEX-5R.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5R size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the FS15 and NEX-5R is 95 and 89 respectively.

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

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5R Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements purely by viewing technical specs. The photograph here should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS15 and NEX-5R.

As you can tell, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FS15 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony NEX-5R will result in extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos way more aggressively. The older FS15 will be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5R sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5R Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-5R Portrait photography information
20
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
74
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FS15
Street photography with Sony NEX-5R
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
80
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-5R Sports photography factors
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
68
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FS15
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5R
51
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (29mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
73
boasts touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS15 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5R as a Landscape photography camera
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (29mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
75
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Vlogging info
Sony NEX-5R Vlogging info
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (29mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external microphone jack
31
has touchscreen
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no microphone port
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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-5R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS15 and Sony NEX-5R
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15Sony Alpha NEX-5R
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 Sony Alpha NEX-5R
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2009-01-16 2012-08-29
Body design 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 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 25600
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 99
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 29-145mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 136g (0.30 lb) 276g (0.61 lb)
Physical dimensions 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 910
Other
Battery life - 330 pictures
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $180 $750