Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5
88 Imaging
47 Features
50 Overall
48


89 Imaging
54 Features
58 Overall
55
Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 6400
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
- Released February 2011
- Earlier Model is Panasonic GF1
- Replacement is Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
- 14MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 12800
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
- Released June 2010
- Updated by Sony NEX-5N

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview
Let's look a little more closely at the Panasonic GF2 and Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the GF2 (12MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is fairly similar but the GF2 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

The GF2 was revealed 9 months later than the NEX-5 so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before going straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the GF2 grades against the NEX-5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5 Gallery
Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 & Sony Alpha NEX-5. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic GF2 Gallery & Sony NEX-5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Sony NEX-5
GF2 | NEX-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | February 2011 | ![]() | June 2010 | Fresher by 9 months |
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Panasonic GF2
NEX-5 | GF2 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display resolution | 920k | ![]() | 460k | Clearer display (+460k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic GF2 and Sony NEX-5
GF2 | NEX-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | More precise focus | ||
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equal display measurement |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Absent selfie screen |
Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison
When you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF2 enjoys outer dimensions of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") along with a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).
Examine the Panasonic GF2 and Sony NEX-5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the GF2 against the NEX-5.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF2 and NEX-5 is 88 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison
Sometimes, it is hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading a spec sheet. The graphic here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the GF2 and NEX-5.
As you can see, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GF2 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Sony NEX-5 will deliver more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The newer GF2 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 | Sony Alpha NEX-5 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Panasonic | Sony |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 | Sony Alpha NEX-5 |
Type | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Released | 2011-02-24 | 2010-06-07 |
Physical type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Venus Engine FHD | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 365.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12MP | 14MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4592 x 3056 |
Max native ISO | 6400 | 12800 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 200 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Total focus points | 23 | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
Number of lenses | 107 | 121 |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Display sizing | 3" | 3" |
Resolution of display | 460 thousand dots | 920 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch display | ||
Display technology | TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 60 secs | 30 secs |
Max shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shutter rate | 3.0 frames/s | 7.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 6.00 m | 12.00 m |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Max flash synchronize | 1/160 secs | 1/160 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 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 | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | AVCHD, Motion JPEG | AVCHD |
Mic port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 310g (0.68 lb) | 287g (0.63 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") | 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | 54 | 69 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 21.2 | 22.2 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 10.3 | 12.2 |
DXO Low light rating | 506 | 796 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 300 images | 330 images |
Battery type | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | NPFW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Price at release | $330 | $599 |