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Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
88
Imaging
47
Features
50
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Panasonic GF2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF1
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GF3
Sony NEX-5N
(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
  • Introduced October 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-5
  • New Model is Sony NEX-5R
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Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the GF2 (12MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the GF2 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5N (APS-C) offer different sensor sizes.

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The GF2 was released 7 months earlier than the NEX-5N so they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the GF2 matches up versus the NEX-5N in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Sony NEX-5N

 GF2 NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Panasonic GF2

 NEX-5N GF2 
IntroducedOctober 2011February 2011More recent by 7 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF2 and Sony NEX-5N

 GF2 NEX-5N 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF2 enjoys exterior measurements of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") along with a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5N has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5N in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the GF2 vs the NEX-5N.

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the GF2 and NEX-5N is 88 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to imagine the difference between sensor measurements purely by checking a spec sheet. The graphic underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the GF2 and NEX-5N.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GF2 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh trickier and the Sony NEX-5N will give more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older GF2 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography factors
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
73
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Street photography information
Sony NEX-5N Street photography information
65
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
comes with touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Sports photography details
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography details
37
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
low battery power (300 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
58
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great battery (460 CIPA)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Travel photography details
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography details
52
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse function
low battery power (300 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
70
great battery (460 shots)
comes with touch to focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
no Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF2 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
low battery power (300 per charge)
missing Time Lapse function
71
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
great battery (460 CIPA)
no image stabilization
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GF2
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5N
32
touch screen
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing mic support
33
touchscreen functionality
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no external microphone support
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Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF2 and Sony NEX-5N
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-02-24 2011-10-03
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 310 grams (0.68 pounds) 269 grams (0.59 pounds)
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 All around score 54 77
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 12.7
DXO Low light score 506 1079
Other
Battery life 300 images 460 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - 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
Launch pricing $330 $550