Panasonic GX8 vs Sony NEX-5N

Here, we will be contrasting the Panasonic GX8 versus Sony NEX-5N, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the GX8 (20MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the GX8 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5N (APS-C) provide different sensor sizing.

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The GX8 was unveiled 3 years later than the NEX-5N and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the GX8 grades versus the NEX-5N in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 and Sony Alpha NEX-5N. The full galleries are available at Panasonic GX8 Gallery and Sony NEX-5N Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic GX8 comes with outside dimensions of 133mm x 78mm x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") and a weight of 487 grams (1.07 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GX8 versus Sony NEX-5N in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the GX8 and the NEX-5N.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the GX8 and NEX-5N is 74 and 89 respectively.

In many cases, it's hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading technical specs. The graphic here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the GX8 and NEX-5N.

As you have seen, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GX8 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh trickier and the Panasonic GX8 will offer greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The fresher GX8 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.