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Panasonic GF8 vs Sony a5100

Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
66
Features
74
Overall
69

Panasonic GF8 vs Sony a5100 Key Specs

Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Released February 2016
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GF7
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
  • Introduced August 2014
  • Replaced the Sony a5000
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Panasonic GF8 vs Sony a5100 Overview

Below is a thorough assessment of the Panasonic GF8 versus Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the GF8 (16MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the GF8 (Four Thirds) and a5100 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The GF8 was announced 19 months later than the a5100 which makes them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the GF8 grades vs the a5100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Sony a5100

 GF8 a5100 
IntroducedFebruary 2016August 2014More recent by 19 months
Screen resolution1040k922kSharper screen (+118k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Panasonic GF8

 a5100 GF8 

Common features in the Panasonic GF8 and Sony a5100

 GF8 a5100 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic GF8 vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF8 enjoys exterior measurements of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Sony a5100 has measurements of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GF8 versus Sony a5100 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the GF8 and the a5100.

Panasonic GF8 vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the GF8 and a5100 is 90 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GF8 vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to envision the gap between sensor measurements only by going over technical specs. The graphic here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the GF8 and a5100.

As you have seen, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GF8 with its tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony a5100 will offer you greater detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more recent GF8 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF8 vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF8 vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Portrait photography advice
Sony a5100 Portrait photography advice
65
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
can't use external flash
72
focusing manually
decent MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Street photography details
Sony a5100 Street photography details
80
tilting screen
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
82
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
boasts focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF8 as a Sports photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Sports photography camera
49
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/500s)
slow frames per second (5.8 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low battery pack (230 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
68
decent MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
great battery (400 shots)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF8 as a Travel photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Travel photography camera
66
boasts focus by touch
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
low battery pack (230 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
80
great battery (400 CIPA)
boasts focus by touch
decent MP (24MP)
built-in flash
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF8 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Landscape photography camera
65
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
low battery pack (230 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
great battery (400 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Vlogging factors
Sony a5100 Vlogging factors
33
touchscreen enabled
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing external microphone support
34
screen is touchscreen
has face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
missing mic jack
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Panasonic GF8 vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF8 and Sony a5100
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8Sony Alpha a5100
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 Sony Alpha a5100
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2016-02-15 2014-08-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3448 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 23 179
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/500 secs 1/4000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 5.8fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.60 m (at ISO 200) 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 266g (0.59 pounds) 283g (0.62 pounds)
Physical dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1347
Other
Battery life 230 pictures 400 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $549 $448