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Panasonic GX8 vs Sony A6500

Portability
74
Imaging
59
Features
84
Overall
69
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
68
Features
85
Overall
74

Panasonic GX8 vs Sony A6500 Key Specs

Panasonic GX8
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 487g - 133 x 78 x 63mm
  • Revealed July 2015
  • Older Model is Panasonic GX7
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Launched October 2016
  • Earlier Model is Sony A6300
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Panasonic GX8 vs Sony A6500 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic GX8 versus Sony A6500, both Advanced Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the GX8 (20MP) and the A6500 (24MP) is relatively similar but the GX8 (Four Thirds) and A6500 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The GX8 was revealed 14 months prior to the A6500 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the GX8 grades against the A6500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX8 over the Sony A6500

 GX8 A6500 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k922kSharper screen (+118k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Panasonic GX8

 A6500 GX8 
LaunchedOctober 2016July 2015More recent by 14 months

Common features in the Panasonic GX8 and Sony A6500

 GX8 A6500 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic GX8 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GX8 provides physical dimensions of 133mm x 78mm x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") and a weight of 487 grams (1.07 lbs) and the Sony A6500 has measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GX8 versus Sony A6500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the GX8 versus the A6500.

Panasonic GX8 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the GX8 and A6500 is 74 and 81 respectively.

Panasonic GX8 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements merely by going over specs. The photograph here might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GX8 and A6500.

All in all, each of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GX8 with its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Sony A6500 will deliver greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures more aggressively. The older GX8 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GX8 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX8 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Portrait photography information
Sony A6500 Portrait photography information
75
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW files
80
you can focus manually
decent MP (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Street photography advice
Sony A6500 Street photography advice
80
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
offers touch focus
environment proof
good high ISO (25,600)
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
has touch to focus
weather sealing
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GX8
Sports photography with Sony A6500
68
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
environment proof
not so great battery (330 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
77
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect autofocus
bad battery life (350 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Travel photography information
Sony A6500 Travel photography information
73
environment proof
offers touch focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery (330 shots)
74
weather sealing
has bluetooth
has touch to focus
decent MP (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
bad battery life (350 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GX8
Landscape photography with Sony A6500
76
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment proof
not so great battery (330 per charge)
80
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
bad battery life (350 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Vlogging advice
Sony A6500 Vlogging advice
81
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes mic jack
39
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has external mic socket
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic GX8 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX8 and Sony A6500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 Sony Alpha a6500
Class Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2015-07-16 2016-10-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 20MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 49 425
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,040k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.77x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 12.0fps 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 487g (1.07 lb) 453g (1.00 lb)
Physical dimensions 133 x 78 x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 75 85
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 24.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.6 13.7
DXO Low light rating 806 1405
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 350 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $898 $1,298