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Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
89
Imaging
49
Features
54
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GF3
  • New Model is Panasonic GF6
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-5N
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Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic GF5 versus Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the GF5 (12MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the GF5 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The GF5 was introduced 23 months later than the NEX-5 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the GF5 grades versus the NEX-5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Sony NEX-5

 GF5 NEX-5 
RevealedApril 2012June 2010Fresher by 23 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Panasonic GF5

 NEX-5 GF5 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Sony NEX-5

 GF5 NEX-5 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Screen resolution920k920kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF5 provides physical dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5 has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GF5 versus Sony NEX-5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the GF5 against the NEX-5.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF5 and NEX-5 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizing just by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic here might give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the GF5 and NEX-5.

Clearly, both of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GF5 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh more difficult and the Sony NEX-5 will show more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The younger GF5 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography advice
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography advice
56
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
72
has manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Street photography camera
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers touch to focus
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
76
screen tilts
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Sports photography camera
41
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
no phase detect auto focus
52
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography highlights
61
offers touch to focus
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
59
good MP (14MP)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography advice
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography advice
59
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
68
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Vlogging camera
32
touchscreen functionality
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
lack of external mic port
28
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have mic port
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Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Sony NEX-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-04-05 2010-06-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 160 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 920k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.30 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 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 file format MPEG-4, AVCHD AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 267 gr (0.59 lb) 287 gr (0.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 50 69
DXO Color Depth score 20.5 22.2
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 12.2
DXO Low light score 573 796
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 330 photographs
Style of battery 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
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $600 $599