Panasonic GF7 vs Sony NEX-5

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic GF7 and Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the GF7 (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the GF7 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

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The GF7 was released 4 years later than the NEX-5 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the GF7 matches up against the NEX-5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 & Sony Alpha NEX-5. The complete galleries are provided at Panasonic GF7 Gallery & Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

In case you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF7 provides outer dimensions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GF7 and Sony NEX-5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the GF7 and the NEX-5.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF7 and NEX-5 is 90 and 89 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing merely by looking at a spec sheet. The graphic here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the GF7 and NEX-5.

Clearly, both the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GF7 due to its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh harder and the Panasonic GF7 will give you more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The newer GF7 should have a benefit in sensor technology.