Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

100

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
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

39

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital
Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
1000 ms startup delay
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
3D
Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G2

Startup delay Much less startup delay 1000 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
Around 50% less delay when turning on
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
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
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G2

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 493 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N has excellent image quality 1.1 f-stops higher ISO than the DMC-G2
Overall image quality Much better image quality 77.0 vs 53.0
Help
Around 50% better image quality
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 60fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 10.3 EV
Help
2.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 21.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 2.4 more bits of color
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
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
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 235 ms vs 423 ms
Help
More than 40% less delay when taking photos
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16 MP vs 12 MP
Help
Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Battery life Longer battery life 460 shots vs 390 shots
Help
Around 20% more shots per battery charge
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 2.6 fps
Help
Around 4x faster continuous shooting
Weight Significantly lighter 269 g vs 416 g
Help
Around 40% 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-G2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
39 vs 100
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-5N.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Touch screen Have touch screens Help
Less buttons
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Battery life Great battery life Help
DMC-G2:390 shots
NEX-5N:460 shots
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Startup delay Has significantly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
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
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens

Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Thickness Is thinner
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
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
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Startup delay Has significantly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $997 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Battery life Shorter battery life
Startup delay More startup delay
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Much smaller
Viewfinder No viewfinder
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Samsung NX11

Samsung NX11

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$619 - $725 with 18-55mm lens

Screen type Has an OLED screen
Color depth Better color depth
Touch screen No touch screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$330 with 14-42mm lens

Lowest price Cheaper
Weight Lighter
Touch screen No touch screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

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

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Startup delay Much less startup delay
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Touch screen No touch screen
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
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 Much more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Startup delay Much less startup delay
Size Slightly smaller
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Supports 24p No 24p support

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Sony NEX-5N
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Sony NEX-5N
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Sony NEX-5N

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