Updated (November, 2011): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-5

80

"The system for manually positioning AF points is quick and easy to use."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's auto-focus
"High quality video mode"
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Color depth
Great color depth
22.2 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
1000 ms startup delay
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

61

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Lens availability
Slightly more lenses available
26 lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor cleaning
Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GX1

Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 259 ms vs 441 ms
Help
More than 40% less delay when taking photos
Lens availability More lenses available 26 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
Around 3.5x more lenses available
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.8 MP vs 14 MP
Help
Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
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
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GX1

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 69.0 vs 55.0
Help
Around 30% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.6 EV
Help
1.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 22.2 bits vs 20.8 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.4 more bits of color
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
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 1000 ms vs 1400 ms
Help
Around 30% less delay when turning on
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 796 ISO vs 703 ISO
Help
The NEX-5 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
More than 60% larger sensor
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 330 shots vs 310 shots
Help
Around 10% more shots per battery charge
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 7 fps vs 4.2 fps
Help
Around 70% faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 116x68x39 mm
Help
Around 20% smaller
Weight Slightly lighter 287 g vs 318 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $569.00 vs $642.80
Help
The best price we've seen is $74 cheaper (more than 10% less)
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.5" vs 1.5"
Help
Almost the same
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
61 vs 80
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-5.

advice

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by Magdalene-Linda last month
Panasonic DMC-GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N

I am taking photos of bags in a light tent with two 5500k lights at the side. I need the photos ...

One person recommends the Sony NEX-5N:

" The Sony has a much larger image sensor, which will give you better quality images. If your lig..."

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
HDR Both have in-camera, most cameras like these don't Help
Combines multiple exposures
Movie format Full HD (1080p) video Help
DMC-GX1:1080p @ 60fps
NEX-5:1080p @ 30fps
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Light sensitivity Very good maximum light sensitivity Help
12,800 ISO
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
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 NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Startup delay Has much more startup delay
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Thickness Is thinner
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$797 - $947 with 10-30mm lens

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$755 - $964 body only

$803 with 14-42mm lens

Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Battery life Longer battery life
True resolution Lower true resolution
External flash No external flash support
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $900 with 17mm lens

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Screen type Has an OLED screen
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Low light performance More noise at high ISO

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Supports 24p
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Size Larger
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Better image quality
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Startup delay More startup delay
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$689 with 18-55mm lens

Storage slots Has more storage slots
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Lens availability Much more lenses available
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR

appearance

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

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