Panasonic G1 vs Sony NEX-5N
82 Imaging
46 Features
50 Overall
47


89 Imaging
56 Features
69 Overall
61
Panasonic G1 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 3200)
- No Video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 360g - 124 x 84 x 45mm
- Revealed January 2009
- Newer Model is Panasonic G2
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 25600
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
- Revealed October 2011
- Superseded the Sony NEX-5
- Updated by Sony NEX-5R

Panasonic G1 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview
Here is a thorough overview of the Panasonic G1 vs Sony NEX-5N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the G1 (12MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the G1 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5N (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

The G1 was launched 3 years before the NEX-5N and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic G1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.
Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the G1 scores versus the NEX-5N in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Panasonic G1 vs Sony NEX-5N Gallery
Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 and Sony Alpha NEX-5N. The complete galleries are viewable at Panasonic G1 Gallery and Sony NEX-5N Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic G1 over the Sony NEX-5N
G1 | NEX-5N | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Tilting | Fully Articulating screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Panasonic G1
NEX-5N | G1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | October 2011 | ![]() | January 2009 | Fresher by 32 months |
Screen resolution | 920k | ![]() | 460k | Sharper screen (+460k dot) |
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Common features in the Panasonic G1 and Sony NEX-5N
G1 | NEX-5N | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | More precise focusing | ||
Screen dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equal screen size |
Panasonic G1 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison
When you are aiming to carry your camera, you should consider its weight and size. The Panasonic G1 has got exterior measurements of 124mm x 84mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 360 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5N has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).
Analyze the Panasonic G1 vs Sony NEX-5N in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the G1 and the NEX-5N.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the G1 and NEX-5N is 82 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic G1 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison
Quite often, its tough to envision the gap in sensor sizing just by seeing specs. The graphic underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the G1 and NEX-5N.
As you can plainly see, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The G1 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony NEX-5N will provide more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The older G1 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic G1 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G1 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 | Sony Alpha NEX-5N | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Panasonic | Sony |
Model | Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 | Sony Alpha NEX-5N |
Category | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Revealed | 2009-01-19 | 2011-10-03 |
Physical type | SLR-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 365.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12MP | 16MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Peak resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4912 x 3264 |
Highest native ISO | 1600 | 25600 |
Highest enhanced ISO | 3200 | - |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Number of focus points | - | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
Available lenses | 107 | 121 |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Type of display | Fully Articulated | Tilting |
Display sizing | 3" | 3" |
Display resolution | 460 thousand dots | 920 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Display technology | - | Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | Electronic (optional) |
Viewfinder coverage | 100% | - |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 60s | 30s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shutter rate | 3.0fps | 10.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | 10.50 m | 12.00 m |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Fastest flash synchronize | 1/160s | 1/160s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | - | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | - | AVCHD |
Mic support | ||
Headphone support | ||
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 | 360g (0.79 pounds) | 269g (0.59 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 124 x 84 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") | 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | 53 | 77 |
DXO Color Depth score | 21.1 | 23.6 |
DXO Dynamic range score | 10.3 | 12.7 |
DXO Low light score | 463 | 1079 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 330 photographs | 460 photographs |
Battery style | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | - | NPFW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage type | SD/MMC/SDHC card | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Retail pricing | $0 | $550 |