Panasonic GF5 vs Sony A100

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic GF5 versus Sony A100, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the GF5 (12MP) and the A100 (10MP) is fairly similar but the GF5 (Four Thirds) and A100 (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The GF5 was revealed 5 years after the A100 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summary of how the GF5 grades vs the A100 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A100. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic GF5 Gallery and Sony A100 Gallery.

When you are going to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic GF5 features outer measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Sony A100 has sizing of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") having a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GF5 versus Sony A100 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the GF5 and the A100.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the GF5 and A100 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions just by reviewing specifications. The image here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the GF5 and A100.

To sum up, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The GF5 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic GF5 will offer greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos more aggressively. The fresher GF5 provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.