Panasonic GF5 vs Sony A390

Following is a extensive assessment of the Panasonic GF5 vs Sony A390, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the GF5 (12MP) and the A390 (14MP) is relatively similar but the GF5 (Four Thirds) and A390 (APS-C) use different sensor size.

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The GF5 was revealed 21 months after the A390 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the GF5 scores versus the A390 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A390. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic GF5 Gallery & Sony A390 Gallery.

When you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF5 has outside measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Sony A390 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GF5 vs Sony A390 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that moment. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the GF5 versus the A390.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the GF5 and A390 is 89 and 66 respectively.

In many cases, it is very difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes only by reviewing technical specs. The pic underneath should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the GF5 and A390.

As you have seen, both of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The GF5 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A390 will offer greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The fresher GF5 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.