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Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5R

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5R Key Specs

Panasonic GF2
(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
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF1
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF3
Sony NEX-5R
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Announced August 2012
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-5N
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-5T
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Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5R Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Panasonic GF2 versus Sony NEX-5R, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the GF2 (12MP) and NEX-5R (16MP) and the GF2 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5R (APS-C) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The GF2 was launched 18 months before the NEX-5R which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the GF2 grades vs the NEX-5R in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 GF2 NEX-5R 

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

 NEX-5R GF2 
AnnouncedAugust 2012February 2011More recent by 18 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

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

 GF2 NEX-5R 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5R Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF2 comes with outer measurements of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") with a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5R has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GF2 versus Sony NEX-5R in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the GF2 compared to the NEX-5R.

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5R size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF2 and NEX-5R is 88 and 89 respectively.

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

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5R Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements only by checking out a spec sheet. The visual here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the GF2 and NEX-5R.

Clearly, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GF2 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony NEX-5R will show extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older GF2 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5R sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5R Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Portrait photography advice
Sony NEX-5R Portrait photography advice
60
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
74
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Street photography information
Sony NEX-5R Street photography information
65
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
provides touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF2 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5R as a Sports photography camera
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
68
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-5R Travel photography highlights
52
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (300 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
73
provides touch focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF2
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5R
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
75
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Vlogging information
Sony NEX-5R Vlogging information
32
screen is touchscreen
provides face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have mic port
31
touch screen
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
missing external microphone jack
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Panasonic GF2 vs Sony NEX-5R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF2 and Sony NEX-5R
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2Sony Alpha NEX-5R
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Sony Alpha NEX-5R
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-02-24 2012-08-29
Body design 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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 99
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 310 gr (0.68 lb) 276 gr (0.61 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 78
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 13.1
DXO Low light rating 506 910
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 330 pictures
Battery format 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 feature With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $330 $750