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Panasonic GF5 vs Sony WX500

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony WX500 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
  • Released April 2012
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF3
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF6
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Earlier Model is Sony WX350
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Panasonic GF5 vs Sony WX500 Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Panasonic GF5 and Sony WX500, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and WX500 (18MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and WX500 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The GF5 was launched 4 years before the WX500 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a quick summation of how the GF5 scores versus the WX500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Sony WX500

 GF5 WX500 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Panasonic GF5

 WX500 GF5 
IntroducedApril 2015April 2012More recent by 36 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k920kSharper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Sony WX500

 GF5 WX500 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF5 enjoys outer measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Sony WX500 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GF5 and Sony WX500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the GF5 compared to the WX500.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the GF5 and WX500 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to see the gap between sensor measurements just by looking at technical specs. The visual here might give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the GF5 and WX500.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GF5 because of its larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony WX500 will give you more detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older GF5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Portrait photography camera
55
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
low MP (12 megapixels)
39
MP count good (18MP)
has face detection autofocus
no manual focus
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GF5
Street photography with Sony WX500
70
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
features touch focus
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
69
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (236g)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Sports photography factors
Sony WX500 Sports photography factors
40
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
lacks phase detect auto focus
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
great battery life (360 CIPA)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Travel photography details
Sony WX500 Travel photography details
61
features touch focus
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low MP (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
great battery life (360 per charge)
lighter than others in class (236 grams)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF5
Landscape photography with Sony WX500
59
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
49
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
great battery life (360 CIPA)
no manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX500 as a Vlogging camera
32
screen is touchscreen
supports face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external mic jack
35
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (236g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
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Panasonic GF5 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Sony WX500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-04-05 2015-04-14
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Lowest native ISO 160 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 920 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
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 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 gr (0.59 lbs) 236 gr (0.52 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 50 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos 360 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $600 $348