Panasonic FX48 vs Sony NEX-5N

The following is a detailed comparison of the Panasonic FX48 vs Sony NEX-5N, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the FX48 (12MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the FX48 (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The FX48 was brought out 3 years before the NEX-5N which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FX48 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the FX48 grades vs the NEX-5N in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 and Sony Alpha NEX-5N. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic FX48 Gallery and Sony NEX-5N Gallery.

In case you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic FX48 features physical measurements of 95mm x 53mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") along with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FX48 vs Sony NEX-5N in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the FX48 versus the NEX-5N.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the FX48 and NEX-5N is 95 and 89 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be tough to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions just by seeing technical specs. The image underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the FX48 and NEX-5N.

As you can tell, both of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The FX48 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony NEX-5N will show extra detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged FX48 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.