Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 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-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
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
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
Battery life Longer battery life 390 shots vs 330 shots
Help
Around 20% more shots per battery charge
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
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 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
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
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 416 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $569.00 vs $614.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $46 cheaper (around 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
39 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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similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
1000 ms startup delay
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
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
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
Startup delay Has much more startup delay
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Thickness Is thinner
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
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
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
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 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

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
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 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-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

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

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Startup delay More startup delay
Lowest price Significantly more expensive
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

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

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