Panasonic GX8 vs Sony a5100

Let's look a little more in depth at the Panasonic GX8 and Sony a5100, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the GX8 (20MP) and the a5100 (24MP) is fairly close but the GX8 (Four Thirds) and a5100 (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The GX8 was announced 12 months after the a5100 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the GX8 grades against the a5100 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 and Sony Alpha a5100. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic GX8 Gallery and Sony a5100 Gallery.

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GX8 provides outside dimensions of 133mm x 78mm x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 487 grams (1.07 lbs) whilst the Sony a5100 has dimensions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GX8 and Sony a5100 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have during that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the GX8 versus the a5100.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the GX8 and a5100 is 74 and 89 respectively.

Usually, it can be tough to picture the contrast in sensor sizes purely by viewing specifications. The image underneath will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the GX8 and a5100.

To sum up, both of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The GX8 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony a5100 will result in more detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics much more aggressively. The more modern GX8 provides an edge in sensor innovation.