Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony NEX-5N

Below is a complete overview of the Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony NEX-5N, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZS45 (16MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is fairly similar but the ZS45 (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) provide different sensor size.

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The ZS45 was launched 3 years later than the NEX-5N and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the ZS45 matches up vs the NEX-5N with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 and Sony Alpha NEX-5N. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic ZS45 Gallery and Sony NEX-5N Gallery.

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS45 enjoys physical dimensions of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5N has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony NEX-5N in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the ZS45 versus the NEX-5N.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the ZS45 and NEX-5N is 91 and 89 respectively.

Usually, it can be tough to imagine the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading specs. The photograph here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS45 and NEX-5N.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have the same resolution but different sensor measurements. The ZS45 comes with the tinier sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF trickier. The more modern ZS45 should have an edge in sensor technology.