Panasonic TS4 vs Sony NEX-5R
92 Imaging
35 Features
33 Overall
34


89 Imaging
57 Features
76 Overall
64
Panasonic TS4 vs Sony NEX-5R Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
- 197g - 103 x 64 x 27mm
- Announced January 2012
- Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FT4
- Superseded the Panasonic TS3
- Updated by Panasonic TS5
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 25600
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
- Revealed August 2012
- Succeeded the Sony NEX-5N
- New Model is Sony NEX-5T

Panasonic TS4 vs Sony NEX-5R Overview
Below is a thorough assessment of the Panasonic TS4 vs Sony NEX-5R, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the TS4 (12MP) and NEX-5R (16MP) and the TS4 (1/2.3") and NEX-5R (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

The TS4 was unveiled 7 months before the NEX-5R so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic TS4 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.
Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short view of how the TS4 scores versus the NEX-5R with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Panasonic TS4 vs Sony NEX-5R Gallery
Here is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 & Sony Alpha NEX-5R. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic TS4 Gallery & Sony NEX-5R Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic TS4 over the Sony NEX-5R
TS4 | NEX-5R |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5R over the Panasonic TS4
NEX-5R | TS4 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | August 2012 | ![]() | January 2012 | More recent by 7 months |
Manual focus | ![]() | Very exact focus | ||
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Screen dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
Screen resolution | 920k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper screen (+690k dot) |
Touch screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Common features in the Panasonic TS4 and Sony NEX-5R
TS4 | NEX-5R | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Selfie screen | ![]() | Absent selfie screen |
Panasonic TS4 vs Sony NEX-5R Physical Comparison
If you are looking to lug around your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic TS4 offers exterior measurements of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5R has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).
Take a look at the Panasonic TS4 vs Sony NEX-5R in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at the time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the TS4 versus the NEX-5R.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the TS4 and NEX-5R is 92 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic TS4 vs Sony NEX-5R Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, it can be difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading through technical specs. The photograph below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the TS4 and NEX-5R.
As you have seen, both the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The TS4 having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony NEX-5R will resolve extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs more aggressively. The older TS4 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic TS4 vs Sony NEX-5R Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic TS4 vs Sony NEX-5R Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 | Sony Alpha NEX-5R | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Panasonic | Sony |
Model | Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 | Sony Alpha NEX-5R |
Alternate name | Lumix DMC-FT4 | - |
Category | Waterproof | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Announced | 2012-01-31 | 2012-08-29 |
Physical type | Compact | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Venus Engine FHD | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 27.7mm² | 365.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixels | 16 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4912 x 3264 |
Highest native ISO | 6400 | 25600 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW images | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Number of focus points | 23 | 99 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | fixed lens | Sony E |
Lens focal range | 28-128mm (4.6x) | - |
Max aperture | f/3.3-5.9 | - |
Macro focus range | 5cm | - |
Number of lenses | - | 121 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Type of display | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Display size | 2.7 inches | 3 inches |
Resolution of display | 230 thousand dots | 920 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch display | ||
Display technology | TFT LCD | Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Electronic (optional) |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 60 seconds | 30 seconds |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/1300 seconds | 1/4000 seconds |
Continuous shooting rate | 4.0fps | 10.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | 5.60 m | no built-in flash |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Maximum flash synchronize | - | 1/160 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | MPEG-4, AVCHD | AVCHD |
Mic support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | BuiltIn | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 197g (0.43 lbs) | 276g (0.61 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 103 x 64 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") | 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | not tested | 78 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 23.7 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 13.1 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 910 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 310 pictures | 330 pictures |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | - | NPFW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) |
Time lapse feature | With downloadable app | |
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | One | One |
Retail cost | $399 | $750 |