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Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5100

Portability
89
Imaging
49
Features
54
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
66
Features
74
Overall
69

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5100 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
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF3
  • Successor is Panasonic GF6
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Previous Model is Sony a5000
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Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5100 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic GF5 versus Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and a5100 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The GF5 was announced 3 years before the a5100 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summation of how the GF5 grades against the a5100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Sony a5100

 GF5 a5100 

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Panasonic GF5

 a5100 GF5 
RevealedAugust 2014April 2012Newer by 28 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k920kSharper screen (+2k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Sony a5100

 GF5 a5100 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF5 has got physical dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Sony a5100 has proportions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GF5 versus Sony a5100 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the GF5 compared to the a5100.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the GF5 and a5100 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to see the contrast between sensor dimensions just by going over technical specs. The pic below will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the GF5 and a5100.

As you can tell, each of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The GF5 with its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF harder and the Sony a5100 will offer you extra detail with its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged GF5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography information
Sony a5100 Portrait photography information
56
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
72
has manual focus
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography highlights
Sony a5100 Street photography highlights
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
supports touch focus
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
82
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Sports photography highlights
Sony a5100 Sports photography highlights
41
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
low frames per second (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
has no phase detect auto focus
68
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking focus
great battery life (400 per charge)
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GF5
Travel photography with Sony a5100
61
supports touch focus
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
80
great battery life (400 shots)
comes with touch to focus
resolution is good (24MP)
flash built-in
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography factors
Sony a5100 Landscape photography factors
59
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (400 per charge)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Vlogging info
Sony a5100 Vlogging info
32
touchscreen functionality
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
lack of mic socket
34
has touchscreen
has face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
does not have microphone jack
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Sony a5100
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Sony Alpha a5100
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Sony Alpha a5100
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-04-05 2014-08-17
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 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing 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 25600
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 179
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 920k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.30 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 267 grams (0.59 lbs) 283 grams (0.62 lbs)
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 Overall score 50 80
DXO Color Depth score 20.5 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 12.7
DXO Low light score 573 1347
Other
Battery life 360 shots 400 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $600 $448