Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GF2
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-5

73

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

51

  

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

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
Size
 Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Size
 Really small
Mid size 113x68x33 mm
Thickness
 Thin
1.3"
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds
 

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF2
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Lens availability More lenses available 26 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 Around 3.5x more lenses available
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 337 ms vs 670 ms
Help
 Around 50% 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
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.5"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $317.00 vs $656.43
Help
 The best price we've seen is $339 cheaper (2.1x less)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF2

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5
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 506 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5 has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
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
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
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 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 17.3x13.0mm
Help
 More than 60% larger sensor
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 12 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Battery life Longer battery life 330 shots vs 300 shots
Help
 10% more shots per battery charge
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 7 fps vs 3.2 fps
Help
 More than 2x faster continuous shooting
Weight Slightly lighter 287 g vs 310 g
Help
 Around 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-GF2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
51 vs 73
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
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
1000 ms startup delay
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
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
0
Focus points Few focus points Help
DMC-GF2:23
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 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 Records lower quality movies
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$514 with 14-42mm lens
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$397 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-GF2
Compare the 1 J1 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
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$328 - $449 with 20-50mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NX1000 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Compare the NX1000 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$971
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,100 with 14-45mm lens
Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Longer battery life
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Touch screen No touch screen
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-6

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$748 body only

$898 with 16-50mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Autofocus Faster autofocus
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Size Larger
Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
Weight Heavier
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 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
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the D3100 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

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Sony Alpha NEX-5

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Howtoshootpictures (8:18 AM, June 28, 2012)
I really like the way camera features are sorted here it made my purchase much easier. I was actually looking to buy a Sony NEX 7 but the price is too steep. I think settlingon NEX 5 will do for my needs.