Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 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-GH1

61

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1

Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GH1

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Lens availability More lenses available 26 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
Around 3.5x more lenses available
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 336 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
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 3,200 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GH1

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Startup delay Much less startup delay 1000 ms vs 1800 ms
Help
More than 40% less delay when turning on
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Size Much smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 124x90x76 mm
Help
3.4x smaller
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 1,600 ISO
Help
The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Color depth Better color depth 22.2 bits vs 21.6 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.6 EV
Help
0.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality 69.0 vs 64.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
More than 60% larger sensor
Thickness Much thinner 1.5" vs 3"
Help
2x thinner
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
Weight Significantly lighter 287 g vs 430 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $569.00 vs $999.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $431 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 330 shots vs 320 shots
Help
Almost the same
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-GH1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
61 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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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...

2
votes
by Alex-Jenkins last month
Sony DSC-HX9v vs Sony NEX-5

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...

1
votes
by Phil-Hand last month
Nikon D5100 vs Sony NEX-5

I am a bit confused. Not hard for an amateur in such a complicated field. I see that the Nikon D51...

One person recommends the Nikon D5100:

"Hi Phil, these are both great cameras. I'd recommend the Nikon D5100 because there are so many mor..."

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Movie format Full HD (1080p) video Help
DMC-GH1:1080p @ 24fps
NEX-5:1080p @ 30fps
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
DMC-GH1:3,200 ISO
NEX-5:None
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
DMC-GH1:336 ms
NEX-5:441 ms
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
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

$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
Startup delay Has much more startup delay
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Startup delay Has significantly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Touch screen Has a touch screen
Thickness Is thinner
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $997 with 14-42mm lens

Startup delay Much less startup delay
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$615 - $642 with 14-42mm lens

Startup delay Much less startup delay
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,125 with 14-45mm lens

Size Much smaller
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Viewfinder No viewfinder

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
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
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
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Better image quality
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Startup delay More startup delay
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$689 with 18-55mm lens

Storage slots Has more storage slots
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Sony Alpha NEX-5

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