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Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-7

Portability
89
Imaging
49
Features
54
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-7 front
Portability
84
Imaging
64
Features
71
Overall
66

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-7 Key Specs

Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF3
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GF6
Sony NEX-7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Revealed December 2011
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Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-7 Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Panasonic GF5 and Sony NEX-7, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and NEX-7 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizing.

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The GF5 was revealed 4 months later than the NEX-7 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go right into a thorough comparison, here is a short overview of how the GF5 scores vs the NEX-7 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Sony NEX-7

 GF5 NEX-7 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Panasonic GF5

 NEX-7 GF5 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k920kCrisper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Sony NEX-7

 GF5 NEX-7 
RevealedApril 2012December 2011Same generation
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-7 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic GF5 offers exterior measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-7 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

See the Panasonic GF5 and Sony NEX-7 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is a front view scale comparison of the GF5 vs the NEX-7.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-7 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF5 and NEX-7 is 89 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-7 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements merely by seeing specifications. The graphic below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the GF5 and NEX-7.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GF5 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Sony NEX-7 will provide greater detail because of its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a bit more aggressively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-7 Portrait photography factors
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
78
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GF5
Street photography with Sony NEX-7
70
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
has touch focus
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
76
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GF5
Sports photography with Sony NEX-7
41
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
slow fps (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have phase detect AF
62
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery life (430 per charge)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-7 as a Travel photography camera
61
has touch focus
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
resolution not great (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
70
great battery life (430 shots)
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-7 Landscape photography info
59
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
72
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (430 per charge)
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Vlogging information
Sony NEX-7 Vlogging information
32
touchscreen
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no microphone port
35
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone support
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
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Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Sony NEX-7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Sony Alpha NEX-7
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Sony Alpha NEX-7
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2012-04-05 2011-12-13
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD Bionz
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 12MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 12800 16000
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 267 gr (0.59 pounds) 400 gr (0.88 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 50 81
DXO Color Depth rating 20.5 24.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.0 13.4
DXO Low light rating 573 1016
Other
Battery life 360 shots 430 shots
Battery style 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 or 5 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $600 $699