• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  •  
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Panasonic GF1 advantages over Sony A5100

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Fast startup
    ~1.40 vs 2.0 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • More telephoto lens reach
    90 mm vs 75 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Sony A5100 advantages over Panasonic GF1

  • 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.
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • 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 21.2 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,347 vs 513 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    12.7 vs 10.3 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Newer
    10 years vs 15 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    922k vs 460k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • Less shutter lag
    0.23 vs 0.41 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    24.3 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
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    6.0 fps vs 2.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    67 vs 13 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 3200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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

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Your purchases support this site

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A5100

Review Excerpt

  • Very small and comfortable form factor; Very good image quality for its class; New dual video record function; Quick autofocus and good dynamic range.

  • Lacks an EVF and external mode dial; No hot shoe; JPEG processing at higher ISOs not as good as some competing mid-level models.

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-P1

Panasonic GF1
Olympus E-P1
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Fast startup
  • $800
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Higher extended ISO
Sony A5100
Olympus E-P1
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $800
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compared to Panasonic GF2

Panasonic GF1
Panasonic GF2
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Bulb shutter
  • $617
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
Sony A5100
Panasonic GF2
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $617
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compared to Panasonic GF3

Panasonic GF1
Panasonic GF3
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Fast startup
  • $675
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
Sony A5100
Panasonic GF3
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $675
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Longer exposure

Compared to Samsung NX1100

Panasonic GF1
Samsung NX1100
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $450
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor
Sony A5100
Samsung NX1100
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $450
  • APS-C
  • Higher-res screen
  • Hot shoe

Compared to Sony A5000

Panasonic GF1
Sony A5000
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A5100
Sony A5000
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
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