Panasonic ZS70 vs Sony NEX-5

Here is a thorough comparison of the Panasonic ZS70 and Sony NEX-5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the ZS70 (20MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) and the ZS70 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The ZS70 was unveiled 6 years later than the NEX-5 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS70 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the ZS70 scores against the NEX-5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70 and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The full galleries are available at Panasonic ZS70 Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

For those who are intending to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS70 has got physical measurements of 112mm x 67mm x 41mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") having a weight of 322 grams (0.71 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZS70 and Sony NEX-5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at the time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the ZS70 and the NEX-5.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS70 and NEX-5 is 87 and 89 respectively.

Normally, it can be tough to see the difference in sensor sizing simply by going through technical specs. The photograph below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS70 and NEX-5.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The ZS70 having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Panasonic ZS70 will show more detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos much more aggressively. The more modern ZS70 is going to have a benefit in sensor innovation.