Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GX1
 vs
Sony
NEX-5N

Updated (August, 2012): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 vs Sony NEX-5R Hands-on P

Sony NEX-5N

92

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

58

  
Winner

Sony NEX-5N

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,079 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
77.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.6 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.7 EV
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Interchangeable lenses
 Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GX1
Lens availability More lenses available 26 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 Around 3.5x more lenses available
Startup delay Less startup delay 1400 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Lowest price Cheaper $239.00 vs $649.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $411 cheaper (2.7x less)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GX1

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 77.0 vs 55.0
Help
 40% better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 703 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5N has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 20.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.8 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 10.6 EV
Help
 2.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 460 shots vs 310 shots
Help
 Around 50% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
 More than 60% larger sensor
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 4.2 fps
Help
 Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 116x68x39 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Weight Lighter 269 g vs 318 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
58 vs 92
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-5N.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Touch screen Have touch screens Help
Less buttons
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Focus points Few focus points Help
DMC-GX1:23
NEX-5N:25
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Touch screen Doesn't have a touch screen
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the Lumix DMC-GX1
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 with 18-55mm lens
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Touch screen Doesn't have a touch screen
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Lumix DMC-GX1
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX-5N
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Lumix DMC-GX1
Compare the NEX-7 vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously while recording movies
Touch screen Doesn't have a touch screen
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Lumix DMC-GX1
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the NEX-5N
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$854 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the Lumix DMC-GX1
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the NEX-5N
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$649
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the Lumix DMC-GX1
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the NEX-5N
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,130 body only

$1,099 with 14-42mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the Lumix DMC-GX1
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the NEX-5N

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 14-42mm lens
Battery life Longer battery life
Size Slightly smaller
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
True resolution Lower true resolution
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF5 vs the Lumix DMC-GX1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Pro digicam

$398
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Startup delay Much more startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the Lumix DMC-GX1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$498 body only

$498 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Size Much larger
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Compare the Lumix DMC-G5 vs the Lumix DMC-GX1
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$369 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Screen type Has an OLED screen
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the Lumix DMC-GX1
Panasonic Lumix GF6

Panasonic Lumix GF6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$599 - $699 with 14-42mm lens
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Battery life Slightly longer battery life
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the Lumix GF6 vs the Lumix DMC-GX1

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$320 - $599 with 20-50mm lens
True resolution Higher true resolution
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Touch screen No touch screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the NX1000 vs the NEX-5N
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the NEX-5N
Samsung NX300

Samsung NX300

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$748 - $749 with 20-50mm lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Size Larger
Compare the NX300 vs the NEX-5N

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Sony NEX-5N
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Sony NEX-5N
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Sony NEX-5N

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