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

Sony Alpha NEX-5
Winner
Sony Alpha NEX-5

67

vs
     
 

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
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Lens availability
 Slightly more lenses available
40 lenses
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 
Differences | Recommendations | Cast your vote | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF1

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Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 409 ms vs 670 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 40 lenses vs 21 lenses
Help
 More than 90% more lenses available
Battery life Longer battery life 400 shots vs 330 shots
Help
 More than 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 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

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Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.3 EV
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 1.9 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high 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
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
Startup delay Less startup delay 1000 ms vs 1400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Sensor size 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 3,200 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 12 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Size Slightly smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 119x71x36 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Lowest price Cheaper $498.00 vs $699.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $201 cheaper (around 30% less)
Weight Lighter 287 g vs 330 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
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recommendations

Which camera do we recommend? Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Snapsort Recommends
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 36
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        vs
        67 Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
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              similarities

              Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

              Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
              Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
              Avoids dust in your photos
              External flash Each supports an external flash Help
              Better lighting
              Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
              1/4000 of a second
              Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
              DMC-GF1:409 ms
              NEX-5:670 ms
              Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
              0
              Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
              Lacks boost light sensitivity
              Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
              Missing that film look
              Focus points Few focus points Help
              DMC-GF1:23
              NEX-5:25
              Touch screen No touchscreens Help
              More buttons
              True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
              DMC-GF1:12 MP
              NEX-5:14 MP
              External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
              Limited to the in-camera mic
              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 Alpha NEX-6

              Sony Alpha NEX-6

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $480 - $748 body only

              $500 - $779 with 16-50mm lens
              Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
              Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
              Thickness Is thicker
              Startup delay Has significantly more startup delay
              Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
              Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the Alpha NEX-5
              Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

              Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $269 - $400 with 14-42mm lens
              Touch screen Has a touch screen
              Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
              External flash Doesn't support an external flash
              Startup delay Has significantly more startup delay
              Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
              Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
              Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

              Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

              Pro digicam

              $479 - $498
              Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
              Image stabilization Has image stabilization
              Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
              External flash Doesn't support an external flash
              Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
              Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the Alpha NEX-5

              Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages
              Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

              Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $430 body only

              $439 with 14-42mm lens
              Movie format Higher resolution movies
              3D Takes 3D photos
              Battery life Shorter battery life
              Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
              Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
              Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

              Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $149 - $737 body only

              $299 - $430 with 14mm lens
              Movie format Higher resolution movies
              3D Takes 3D photos
              Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
              Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
              Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1

              Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $610 - $1,215 with 12-32mm lens
              Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
              Movie format Higher resolution movies
              Battery life Much shorter battery life
              Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
              Compare the Lumix DMC-GM1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
              Olympus PEN E-PL1

              Olympus PEN E-PL1

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $538 with 14-42mm lens
              Image stabilization Image stabilization
              Color depth Better color depth
              Shutter lag Much more shutter lag
              Screen size Smaller screen
              Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
              Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

              Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $340 with 14-42mm lens
              Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
              Movie format Higher resolution movies
              Color depth Worse color depth
              Overall image quality Worse image quality
              Compare the Lumix DMC-GF5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1

              Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages
              Sony NEX-5N

              Sony NEX-5N

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
              Shutter lag Much less shutter lag
              Touch screen Has a touch screen
              Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
              Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
              Sony Alpha NEX-3

              Sony Alpha NEX-3

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $330 with 16-50mm lens
              External mic jack Has an external mic jack
              Lowest price Cheaper
              Movie format Lower resolution movies
              Dynamic range Less dynamic range
              Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
              Sony Alpha A5000

              Sony Alpha A5000

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $498 with 16-50mm lens
              Supports 24p Supports 24p
              Overall image quality Better image quality
              Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
              3D Doesn't take 3D photos
              Compare the Alpha A5000 vs the Alpha NEX-5
              Sony NEX-7

              Sony NEX-7

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $1,100 with 18-55mm lens
              Shutter lag Much less shutter lag
              Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
              Startup delay More startup delay
              Lowest price Significantly more expensive
              Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
              Sony Alpha NEX-3N

              Sony Alpha NEX-3N

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $350 body only

              $450 with 16-50mm lens
              Shutter lag Much less shutter lag
              Supports 24p Supports 24p
              Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
              Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
              Compare the Alpha NEX-3N 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

              discussion

              Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
              Lumix DMC-GF1
              Panasonic

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              Sony Alpha NEX-5
              Alpha NEX-5
              Sony

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