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

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-GF2

55
"The GF2 sits nicely in your hand , and despite its reduced size is comfortable to hold."
dpreview.com | talking about the DMC-GF2's feel
"Superb fully-customisable quick menu"
dpreview.com | talking about the DMC-GF2's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
1000 ms startup delay
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 441 ms
Help
 More than 20% less delay when taking photos
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
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.5"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Lowest price Cheaper $375.99 vs $569.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $193 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF2

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
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
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
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
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 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
55 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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Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
1
votes
by Matthew-Kim last month
Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-5

I am a beginner but woudl like to take quality pictures of my kids.

One person recommends the Sony NEX-5N:

"Hi Matthew, I think both of these cameras would be awesome. The Sony NEX cameras are really small ..."
0
votes
by 11111111111111111 last month
Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-5

Hello, I need some advice. I am deciding between the two cameras. The frst one is Sony NEX 5...
0
votes
by Jodan this month
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I am only looking for a Camera to take video. And since both are hackable for even higher bitrat...
2
votes
by Alex-Jenkins last month
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I'm a beginner who's been using an old Nikon D70 for last 7 years - in auto mode only. I want s...
0
votes
by Mark-Ballard last week
Panasonic DMC-GX1 vs Sony NEX-5

Hey everyone. I'm a pretty unexperienced amateur that currently uses a Samsung NX10 normally wit...

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
1000 ms startup delay
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 30fps
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Size Fairly small Help
DMC-GF2:113x68x33 mm
NEX-5:111x59x38 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
DMC-GF2:$375.99
NEX-5:$569.00
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
DMC-GF2:337 ms
NEX-5:441 ms
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
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

$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
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Startup delay Has much 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

$547 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
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NEX C3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Compare the NEX C3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$689 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 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-GF2
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$731 - $964 with 14-42mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,125 with 14-45mm lens
Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the Rebel T2i 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

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