Panasonic GF5 vs Sony RX100 II
89 Imaging
48 Features
54 Overall
50


89 Imaging
50 Features
74 Overall
59
Panasonic GF5 vs Sony RX100 II Key Specs
(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
(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- Superseded the Sony RX100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

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.

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.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony RX100 II Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic GF5 Gallery & Sony RX100 II Gallery.
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | June 2013 | ![]() | April 2012 | Newer by 14 months |
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display resolution | 1229k | ![]() | 920k | Crisper display (+309k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Sony RX100 II
GF5 | RX100 II | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial exact focus | ||
Display size | 3" | ![]() | 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.
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.

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

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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony RX100 II Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 | Sony 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 |