Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GF1
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

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

Sony Alpha NEX-5

83
"High quality video mode"
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's video-quality
"In terms of physical handling, both NEX cameras are also pretty good"
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
69.0
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Color depth
 Great color depth
22.2 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

45

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF1
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 26 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 Around 3.5x more lenses available
Battery life Longer battery life 400 shots vs 330 shots
Help
 More than 20% more shots per battery charge
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 409 ms vs 441 ms
Help
 Around 10% less delay when taking photos
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
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.4" vs 1.5"
Help
 Almost the same
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF1

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 513 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5 has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 69.0 vs 54.0
Help
 Around 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
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
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
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Startup delay Less startup delay 1000 ms vs 1400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
 More than 50% larger sensor
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 12 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $569.00 vs $1,100.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $531 cheaper (around 50% less)
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 119x71x36 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Weight Lighter 287 g vs 330 g
Help
 More than 10% 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-GF1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
45 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-GF1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 vs Sony Alpha NEX-5
SonyAlpha NEX-5
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
6
11
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
4
13
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
4
12
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
4
12
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
3
13
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
9
9
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
7
12
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
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 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
Startup delay Has much more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$569 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Compare the Rebel T2i 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 faster continuously
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$705 body only

$932 - $968 with 14-42mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$550 body only

$439 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$329 - $379 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$389 - $500
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$320 - $468
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Shutter lag Less shutter lag
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1

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
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$479 - $548 with 16mm lens
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-5

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Sony Alpha NEX-5

Find similar cameras

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discussion Which do you think is better?

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