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Panasonic G5 vs Sony A7

Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
66
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 front
 
Sony Alpha A7 front
Portability
78
Imaging
70
Features
80
Overall
74

Panasonic G5 vs Sony A7 Key Specs

Panasonic G5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 83 x 71mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Previous Model is Panasonic G3
  • Renewed by Panasonic G6
Sony A7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 50 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 474g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Introduced January 2014
  • Renewed by Sony A7 II
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Panasonic G5 vs Sony A7 Overview

In this article, we are evaluating the Panasonic G5 and Sony A7, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the G5 (16MP) and A7 (24MP) and the G5 (Four Thirds) and A7 (Full frame) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The G5 was introduced 18 months earlier than the A7 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras offer the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the G5 matches up versus the A7 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G5 over the Sony A7

 G5 A7 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A7 over the Panasonic G5

 A7 G5 
IntroducedJanuary 2014July 2012More recent by 18 months
Display resolution1230k920kClearer display (+310k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic G5 and Sony A7

 G5 A7 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements

Panasonic G5 vs Sony A7 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic G5 offers outside dimensions of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") with a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) while the Sony A7 has measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 474 grams (1.04 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic G5 and Sony A7 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the G5 against the A7.

Panasonic G5 vs Sony A7 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the G5 and A7 is 74 and 78 respectively.

Panasonic G5 vs Sony A7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Sony A7 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements just by checking out technical specs. The visual underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the G5 and A7.

As you can tell, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The G5 with its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh harder and the Sony A7 will show more detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The older G5 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic G5 vs Sony A7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Sony A7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G5 vs Sony A7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic G5
Portrait photography with Sony A7
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
82
focusing manually
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G5 Street photography features
Sony A7 Street photography features
66
screen articulates fully
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
provides focus by touch
no image stabilization
more heavy than competitors in class (396 grams)
79
screen tilts
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
lighter than competition (474g)
above average high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G5 Sports photography features
Sony A7 Sports photography features
51
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
low fps (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
66
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
environment sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (340 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G5 Travel photography advice
Sony A7 Travel photography advice
66
provides focus by touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors in class (396 grams)
69
lighter than competition (474 grams)
environment sealing
decent MP (24MP)
not so great battery (340 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G5 Landscape photography info
Sony A7 Landscape photography info
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
no Timelapse function
75
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (340 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G5 Vlogging features
Sony A7 Vlogging features
62
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
includes face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no image stabilization
no microphone support
more heavy than competitors in class (396 grams)
35
offers face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone socket
lighter than competition (474g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
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Panasonic G5 vs Sony A7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G5 and Sony A7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5Sony Alpha A7
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 Sony Alpha A7
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2012-07-17 2014-01-22
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine VII FHD Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Lowest native ISO 160 50
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 117
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dots 1,230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.71x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.50 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 396 gr (0.87 pounds) 474 gr (1.04 pounds)
Dimensions 120 x 83 x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 61 90
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 24.8
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 14.2
DXO Low light score 618 2248
Other
Battery life 320 photos 340 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $699 $798