• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • 20.00mm - 1200.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Panasonic FZ70 advantages over Sony A5100

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Less shutter lag
    0.12 vs 0.23 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    10.0 fps vs 6.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Sony A5100 advantages over Panasonic FZ70

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 3.92 vs 1.34 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • 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 19.4 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,347 vs 171 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    12.7 vs 10.8 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Thinner
    35 mm vs 118 mm
    Thinner
  • 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
  • More pixels
    24.3 vs 16.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    67 vs 3 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 6400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • In-camera panoramas
    Both provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • RAW file ability
    Both provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • 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
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • 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

Buy From

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 Fujifilm SL1000

Panasonic FZ70
Fujifilm SL1000
  • $660
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Shoots 60p video
  • $650
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Tiltable Screen
  • More dots on screen
Sony A5100
Fujifilm SL1000
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $650
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compared to Samsung NX1100

Panasonic FZ70
Samsung NX1100
  • $660
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $450
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
Sony A5100
Samsung NX1100
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $450
  • APS-C
  • Higher-res screen
  • Hot shoe

Compared to Sony A5000

Panasonic FZ70
Sony A5000
  • $660
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A5100
Sony A5000
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive

Compared to Samsung WB2200F

Panasonic FZ70
Samsung WB2200F
  • $660
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • RAW file ability
  • Hot shoe
  • $675
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • NFC
Sony A5100
Samsung WB2200F
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $675
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compared to Olympus SP-100

Panasonic FZ70
Olympus SP-100
  • $660
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • RAW file ability
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $600
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
  • Slow-motion videos
Sony A5100
Olympus SP-100
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $600
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
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