Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 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
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
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

32

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G10

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Lens availability More lenses available 26 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
Around 3.5x more lenses available
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
Lowest price Cheaper $329.99 vs $569.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $239 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G10

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 796 ISO vs 411 ISO
Help
The NEX-5 has a slight edge (1 f-stop) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 69.0 vs 52.0
Help
More than 30% better image quality
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
2.1 f-stops more dynamic range
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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Size Much smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 124x90x74 mm
Help
3.3x smaller
Color depth Better color depth 22.2 bits vs 21.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
More than 50% larger sensor
Thickness Much thinner 1.5" vs 2.9"
Help
Around 50% thinner
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 12 MP
Help
Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 2.6 fps
Help
More than 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Weight Lighter 287 g vs 381 g
Help
More than 20% lighter
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-G10 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10
32 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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1
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by Matthew-Kim last month
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similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
DMC-G10:$329.99
NEX-5:$569.00
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
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

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
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Startup delay Has much more startup delay
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 much more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Touch screen Has a touch screen
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Startup delay Has much more startup delay
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$615 - $642 with 14-42mm lens

Touch screen Has a touch screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Lowest price More expensive
Weight Heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$490 with 14-45mm lens

Size Much smaller
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Does not take movies
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
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 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

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 Sony Alpha NEX-5

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