• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 160 - 12,800
  • 35mm 847.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

Buy From

Differences

Panasonic G5 advantages over Sony A9

  • Less expensive
    $500 vs $2995*
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Sony A9 advantages over Panasonic G5

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.93 vs 3.75 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 650 vs 310 shots
    Capture more photos
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/250 vs 1/160 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Newer
    8 years vs 12 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.78x vs 0.70x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    24.2 vs 16.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    20.0 fps vs 6.2 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    364 vs 18 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/32000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    204800 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Touchscreen
    Both provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Small, compact body with excellent focusing and exposure capabilities; Newly enhanced touchpanel LCD screen makes image capture and review a joy; Excellent HD video recording quality.

  • Some controls difficult to access; Too easy to activate menus and options while shooting; Lack of a microphone-in jack limits video recording usefulness.

  • New sensor offers incredible performance; Excellent image quality at low & high ISOs; Very good dynamic range; Phenomenal 20fps burst speed & deep buffer; Very good battery life for a mirrorless; 4K video; Dual card slots.

  • Slow buffer clearing; Only one card slot is UHS-II compatible; Touchscreen underutilized; No lossless RAW compression option; No 4K/60p option.

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic G2

Panasonic G5
Panasonic G2
  • $500
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • More dots on screen
  • $800
  • 4/3
  • Bigger pixels
  • Fast startup
Sony A9
Panasonic G2
  • $2997
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $800
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Internal flash

Compared to Panasonic G6

Panasonic G5
Panasonic G6
  • $500
  • 4/3
  • $399
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Sony A9
Panasonic G6
  • $2997
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $399
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compared to Panasonic G7

Panasonic G5
Panasonic G7
  • $500
  • 4/3
  • $498
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Sony A9
Panasonic G7
  • $2997
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $498
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compared to Leica SL (Typ 601)

Panasonic G5
Leica SL (Typ 601)
  • $500
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $3802
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A9
Leica SL (Typ 601)
  • $2997
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $3802
  • 35mm
  • Built-in GPS
  • Top deck display

Compared to Sony A9 II

Panasonic G5
Sony A9 II
  • $500
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Lens selection
  • $4498
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A9
Sony A9 II
  • $2997
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • $4498
  • 35mm
  • Newer
Compare Other Cameras?