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

74

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

36

  

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
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
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
1.4"
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds
 

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF1
Battery life Longer battery life 400 shots vs 330 shots
Help
 More than 20% more shots per battery charge
Lens availability More lenses available 26 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 Around 3.5x more lenses available
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 409 ms vs 670 ms
Help
 Around 40% 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 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
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 69.0 vs 54.0
Help
 Around 30% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.3 EV
Help
 1.9 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
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
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
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
Sensor size 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
Startup delay Less startup delay 1000 ms vs 1400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
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
Lowest price Cheaper $656.43 vs $1,099.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $444 cheaper (more than 40% less)
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
36 vs 74
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-5.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
0
Focus points Few focus points Help
DMC-GF1:23
NEX-5:25
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $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 slightly more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D3100 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$239 - $249 body only

$399 - $419 with 14-42mm lens
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
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$497 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$339 - $514 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,565
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$380 - $555 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,130 body only

$1,099 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Size Larger
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Battery life Shorter battery life
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Startup delay More startup delay
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Size Much larger
Compare the D5100 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

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