Clicky

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5000

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Sony Alpha a5000 front
Portability
89
Imaging
62
Features
62
Overall
62

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5000 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
  • Launched April 2012
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF3
  • Renewed by Panasonic GF6
Sony a5000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Introduced January 2014
  • Previous Model is Sony NEX-3N
  • Later Model is Sony a5100
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5000 Overview

The following is a in-depth analysis of the Panasonic GF5 and Sony a5000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and a5000 (20MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and a5000 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor size.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The GF5 was released 21 months earlier than the a5000 making them a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the GF5 grades against the a5000 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Sony a5000

 GF5 a5000 
Display resolution920k461kSharper display (+459k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony a5000 over the Panasonic GF5

 a5000 GF5 
IntroducedJanuary 2014April 2012Newer by 21 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Sony a5000

 GF5 a5000 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5000 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic GF5 comes with outside measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Sony a5000 has specifications of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GF5 and Sony a5000 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the GF5 vs the a5000.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5000 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the GF5 and a5000 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5000 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5000 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to see the contrast between sensor dimensions just by looking at a spec sheet. The picture underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the GF5 and a5000.

As you can see, both cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The GF5 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony a5000 will resolve extra detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged GF5 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5000 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5000 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography advice
Sony a5000 Portrait photography advice
55
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
70
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography details
Sony a5000 Street photography details
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
includes focus by touch
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
78
screen tilts
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GF5
Sports photography with Sony a5000
40
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
slow fps (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
lack of phase detect autofocus
59
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
great battery (420 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GF5
Travel photography with Sony a5000
61
includes focus by touch
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
78
great battery (420 shots)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen isn't selfie friendly
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF5
Landscape photography with Sony a5000
59
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
77
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
great battery (420 CIPA)
no image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Vlogging advice
Sony a5000 Vlogging advice
32
touch screen
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
no external microphone socket
32
includes face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have microphone port
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Sony a5000
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Sony Alpha a5000
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Sony Alpha a5000
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-04-05 2014-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 12800 16000
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.6
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD with 180 upward tilt
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.30 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (60i/24p), 1440 x 1080 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 267g (0.59 lb) 269g (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 50 79
DXO Color Depth score 20.5 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 13.0
DXO Low light score 573 1089
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 420 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $600 $448