Panasonic GF2 vs Sony a5100
88 Imaging
47 Features
50 Overall
48


89 Imaging
65 Features
74 Overall
68
Panasonic GF2 vs Sony a5100 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
- Announced February 2011
- Succeeded the Panasonic GF1
- Replacement is Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
- 24MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 100 - 25600
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
- Announced August 2014
- Previous Model is Sony a5000

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony a5100 Overview
Here, we are contrasting the Panasonic GF2 and Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the GF2 (12MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the GF2 (Four Thirds) and a5100 (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

The GF2 was unveiled 4 years earlier than the a5100 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a concise overview of how the GF2 matches up against the a5100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony a5100 Gallery
Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 and Sony Alpha a5100. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic GF2 Gallery and Sony a5100 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Sony a5100
GF2 | a5100 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Panasonic GF2
a5100 | GF2 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | August 2014 | ![]() | February 2011 | Newer by 42 months |
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display resolution | 922k | ![]() | 460k | Clearer display (+462k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic GF2 and Sony a5100
GF2 | a5100 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Very accurate focus | ||
Display size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same display measurements |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither comes with selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Panasonic GF2 vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic GF2 comes with outside 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) and the Sony a5100 has specifications of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).
Look at the Panasonic GF2 and Sony a5100 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the GF2 against the a5100.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the GF2 and a5100 is 88 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison
Usually, it's hard to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions just by going through technical specs. The picture here may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the GF2 and a5100.
As you have seen, each of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GF2 using its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony a5100 will show greater detail having an extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The more aged GF2 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Sony a5100 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 | Sony Alpha a5100 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Panasonic | Sony |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 | Sony Alpha a5100 |
Category | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Announced | 2011-02-24 | 2014-08-17 |
Physical type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Venus Engine FHD | Bionz X |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixels | 24 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 6000 x 4000 |
Max native ISO | 6400 | 25600 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Total focus points | 23 | 179 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | 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" |
Display resolution | 460 thousand dots | 922 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch function | ||
Display tech | TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 60 seconds | 30 seconds |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/4000 seconds |
Continuous shooting rate | 3.0 frames/s | 6.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | 6.00 m | 4.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Maximum flash synchronize | 1/160 seconds | - |
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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) |
Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | AVCHD, Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S |
Microphone support | ||
Headphone support | ||
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 proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 310g (0.68 lbs) | 283g (0.62 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") | 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | 54 | 80 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 21.2 | 23.8 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 10.3 | 12.7 |
DXO Low light rating | 506 | 1347 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 300 shots | 400 shots |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | NP-FW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot)) |
Time lapse shooting | With downloadable app | |
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | 1 | 1 |
Retail cost | $330 | $448 |