Panasonic Lumix
DMC-G2
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

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

Sony Alpha NEX-5

83
"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

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

42

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Digital
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
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
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G2
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 26 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 Around 3.5x more lenses available
Battery life Longer battery life 390 shots vs 330 shots
Help
 Around 20% more shots per battery charge
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 Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 423 ms vs 441 ms
Help
 Almost the same
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G2

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 493 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5 has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 69.0 vs 53.0
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 10.3 EV
Help
 1.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 22.2 bits vs 21.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Size Much smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 124x90x74 mm
Help
 3.3x smaller
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
 More than 50% larger sensor
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
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 12 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Thickness Much thinner 1.5" vs 2.9"
Help
 Around 50% thinner
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 2.6 fps
Help
 More than 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Weight Significantly lighter 287 g vs 416 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $569.00 vs $641.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $73 cheaper (more than 10% less)
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-G2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
42 vs 83
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-5.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

PanasonicLumix DMC-G2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 vs Sony Alpha NEX-5
SonyAlpha NEX-5
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
5
8
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
5
5
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
7
5
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
7
4
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
7
4
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
9
3
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
8
7
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
1000 ms startup delay
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
DMC-G2:423 ms
NEX-5:441 ms
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

$599 - $600 body only

$698 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Startup delay Has much more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Lumix DMC-G2
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$479 - $548 with 16mm lens
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Lumix DMC-G2
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Lumix DMC-G2
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$549 body only
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-G3 vs the Lumix DMC-G2
Compare the Lumix DMC-G3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D3100 vs the Lumix DMC-G2
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the Lumix DMC-G2
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Lumix DMC-G2
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Alpha NEX-5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-45mm lens
Size Significantly smaller
Thickness Much thinner
Movie format Does not take movies
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the Lumix DMC-G1 vs the Lumix DMC-G2

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$499 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Better image quality
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower
Compare the NEX C3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Lowest price Much more expensive
Weight Heavier
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$597 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
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5

appearance

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

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these cameras here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 0 comments