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Panasonic GF5 vs Sony RX100 II

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II front
Portability
89
Imaging
50
Features
74
Overall
59

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony RX100 II 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
  • Older Model is Panasonic GF3
  • Updated by Panasonic GF6
Sony RX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 281g - 102 x 58 x 38mm
  • Introduced June 2013
  • Superseded the Sony RX100
  • Updated by Sony RX100 III
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Panasonic GF5 vs Sony RX100 II Overview

The following is a detailed assessment of the Panasonic GF5 versus Sony RX100 II, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and RX100 II (20MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and RX100 II (1") boast different sensor sizing.

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The GF5 was introduced 14 months prior to the RX100 II making them a generation away from each other. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the GF5 grades versus the RX100 II when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Sony RX100 II

 GF5 RX100 II 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 II over the Panasonic GF5

 RX100 II GF5 
IntroducedJune 2013April 2012Newer by 14 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k920kCrisper display (+309k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Sony RX100 II

 GF5 RX100 II 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony RX100 II Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic GF5 provides outside dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Sony RX100 II has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GF5 versus Sony RX100 II in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that moment. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the GF5 against the RX100 II.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony RX100 II size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the GF5 and RX100 II is 89 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony RX100 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing specs. The picture underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the GF5 and RX100 II.

All in all, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The GF5 with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony RX100 II will offer extra detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged GF5 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony RX100 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF5
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 II
55
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
70
you can focus manually
above average flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography info
Sony RX100 II Street photography info
70
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
has touch focus
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
85
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (281 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Sports photography info
Sony RX100 II Sports photography info
40
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
lacks phase detect autofocus
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (350 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 II as a Travel photography camera
61
has touch focus
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
79
better than average battery life (350 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (281 grams)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography information
Sony RX100 II Landscape photography information
59
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
73
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (350 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Vlogging features
Sony RX100 II Vlogging features
32
touch screen
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no microphone jack
37
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (281 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
missing external mic support
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Panasonic GF5 vs Sony RX100 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Sony RX100 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-04-05 2013-06-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 160 160
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Maximal aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/2000 seconds
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), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 267 grams (0.59 pounds) 281 grams (0.62 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 102 x 58 x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 50 67
DXO Color Depth rating 20.5 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.0 12.4
DXO Low light rating 573 483
Other
Battery life 360 shots 350 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $600 $598