• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • APS-C 357.3mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000

Buy From

Differences

Panasonic GF5 advantages over Sony A5000

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Fast startup
    ~1.40 vs 2.0 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Higher-res screen
    307k vs 154k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • Less shutter lag
    0.18 vs 0.30 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    4.0 fps vs 3.3 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Sony A5000 advantages over Panasonic GF5

  • Less expensive
    $298 vs $430
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Better color depth
    23.8 vs 21.4 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,089 vs 618 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    13.0 vs 11.6 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 420 vs 330 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More pixels
    20.1 vs 12.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 28 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    15 vs 5 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Neither provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Hot shoe
    Neither provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Panasonic GF5

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A5000

Review Excerpt

  • Small body pairs nicely with compact, retractable Power Zoom lens. Extremely fast autofocus. Worthwhile improvements in image quality. Touchscreen overlays can now be hidden.

  • LCD panel is prone to fingerprint smudges. Weak flash, and no hot shoe. Modest burst performance, and very limited buffer for raw shooting. Noise levels and dynamic range still lag competition.

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-PL3

Panasonic GF5
Olympus E-PL3
  • $430
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • Fast startup
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Tiltable Screen
Sony A5000
Olympus E-PL3
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compared to Olympus E-PM1

Panasonic GF5
Olympus E-PM1
  • $430
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $500
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Hot shoe
Sony A5000
Olympus E-PM1
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $500
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compared to Panasonic GF3X

Panasonic GF5
Panasonic GF3X
  • $430
  • 4/3
  • Higher effective ISO
  • More dynamic range
  • $750
  • 4/3
Sony A5000
Panasonic GF3X
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $750
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Touchscreen

Compared to Sony NEX-5T

Panasonic GF5
Sony NEX-5T
  • $430
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Internal flash
  • $299
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A5000
Sony NEX-5T
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Internal flash
  • $299
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • On-sensor phase detect

Compared to Sony A5100

Panasonic GF5
Sony A5100
  • $430
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A5000
Sony A5100
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • Higher effective ISO
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