Panasonic G5 vs Sony A380

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Panasonic G5 and Sony A380, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the G5 (16MP) and the A380 (14MP) is pretty similar but the G5 (Four Thirds) and A380 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizing.

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The G5 was launched 2 years later than the A380 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the G5 grades versus the A380 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A380. The complete galleries are viewable at Panasonic G5 Gallery and Sony A380 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic G5 comes with outside measurements of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) whilst the Sony A380 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic G5 and Sony A380 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the G5 against the A380.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G5 and A380 is 74 and 68 respectively.

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualize the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading specs. The visual here will give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the G5 and A380.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The G5 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Panasonic G5 will deliver extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots far more aggressively. The more modern G5 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.