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Panasonic GF8 vs Sony A6500

Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Panasonic GF8 vs Sony A6500 Key Specs

Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Announced February 2016
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF7
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Announced October 2016
  • Superseded the Sony A6300
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Panasonic GF8 vs Sony A6500 Overview

In this article, we are analyzing the Panasonic GF8 versus Sony A6500, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the GF8 (16MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the GF8 (Four Thirds) and A6500 (APS-C) use different sensor size.

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The GF8 was revealed 7 months before the A6500 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise view of how the GF8 grades versus the A6500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Sony A6500

 GF8 A6500 
Display resolution1040k922kCrisper display (+118k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Panasonic GF8

 A6500 GF8 
AnnouncedOctober 2016February 2016More modern by 7 months

Common features in the Panasonic GF8 and Sony A6500

 GF8 A6500 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Panasonic GF8 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic GF8 provides physical measurements of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Sony A6500 has specifications of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GF8 versus Sony A6500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the GF8 vs the A6500.

Panasonic GF8 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the GF8 and A6500 is 90 and 81 respectively.

Panasonic GF8 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizes purely by viewing a spec sheet. The picture here will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the GF8 and A6500.

As you can see, both of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The GF8 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony A6500 will result in greater detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged GF8 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF8 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF8 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A6500 Portrait photography highlights
65
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
80
manual focus
resolution is good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF8 as a Street photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Street photography camera
80
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
includes focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
environment sealing
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GF8
Sports photography with Sony A6500
49
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/500s)
low fps (5.8 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery power (230 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
77
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
not so great battery pack (350 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Travel photography highlights
Sony A6500 Travel photography highlights
66
includes focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (230 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
74
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
comes with focus by touch
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
not so great battery pack (350 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Landscape photography factors
Sony A6500 Landscape photography factors
65
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery power (230 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
79
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
not so great battery pack (350 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Vlogging details
Sony A6500 Vlogging details
33
touchscreen
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
does not have mic support
39
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have mic port
display is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic GF8 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF8 and Sony A6500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 Sony Alpha a6500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2016-02-15 2016-10-06
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 surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3448 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 425
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/500 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.8 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.60 m (at ISO 200) 6.00 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, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 266 grams (0.59 lb) 453 grams (1.00 lb)
Dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 85
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1405
Other
Battery life 230 shots 350 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $549 $1,298