Sony A5100 vs Panasonic GX850

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Sony A5100 vs Panasonic GX850

Leave Feedback

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A5100 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A5100 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A5100.
Compare Sony A5100 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A5100 conclusion.

4/3 224.9mm²
16.0 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Panasonic GX850 Review.
How does it shoot? Panasonic GX850 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the GX850.
Compare Panasonic GX850 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Panasonic GX850 conclusion.

Buy From

Differences

Sony A5100 advantages over Panasonic GX850

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A5100 test data on DxO Mark GX850 test data on DxO Mark

1,347 vs 586 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

400 vs 210 shots
Capture more photos
More telephoto lens reach
75 mm vs 64 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
Higher max flash sync
1/160 vs 1/50 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
More pixels
24.3 vs 16.0 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Bigger RAW buffer
25 vs 17 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Panasonic GX850 advantages over Sony A5100

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Higher-res screen
347k vs 230k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
9.3 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
114 vs 67 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
9.5 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Both provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
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

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
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

Amazon
Adorama
Read A5100 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read GX850 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A5100

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Black)
Kit with 16-50mm Lens (White)

All A5100 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Panasonic GX850

Kit with 12-32mm Lens (Black)

Kit with 12-32mm Lens (Black)
Kit with 12-32mm Lens (Silver)

All GX850 Deals

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.
Read our Sony A5100 Review

Impressive image quality; Sleek design; 4K video recording; Good overall performance; Tilting touchscreen; Enjoyable user experience.
No EVF; No hot shoe, Short 4K clip limit; MicroSD card slot, Poor battery life.
Read our Panasonic GX850 Review

The Competition

Compared to Samsung NX1000

Sony A5100

Samsung NX1000

$348
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$413
APS-C

Higher-res screen
Hot shoe

Compare Sony A5100 vs Samsung NX1000

Panasonic GX850

Samsung NX1000

$548
4/3

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$413
APS-C

Larger sensor
Higher effective ISO

Compare Panasonic GX850 vs Samsung NX1000

Compared to Samsung NX1100

Sony A5100

Samsung NX1100

$348
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$450
APS-C

Higher-res screen
Hot shoe

Compare Sony A5100 vs Samsung NX1100

Panasonic GX850

Samsung NX1100

$548
4/3

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$450
APS-C

Larger sensor
Higher effective ISO

Compare Panasonic GX850 vs Samsung NX1100

Compared to Sony A5000

Sony A5100

Sony A5000

$348
APS-C

Touchscreen
Higher effective ISO

$298
APS-C

Less expensive

Compare Sony A5100 vs Sony A5000

Panasonic GX850

Sony A5000

$548
4/3

Lens selection
Shoot 4K video

$298
APS-C

Larger sensor
NFC

Compare Panasonic GX850 vs Sony A5000

Compared to Panasonic GM5

Sony A5100

Panasonic GM5

$348
APS-C

Larger sensor
Tiltable Screen

$898
4/3

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony A5100 vs Panasonic GM5

Panasonic GX850

Panasonic GM5

$548
4/3

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

$898
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Fast startup

Compare Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic GM5

Compared to Panasonic GF7

Sony A5100

Panasonic GF7

$348
APS-C

Larger sensor
NFC

$590
4/3

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A5100 vs Panasonic GF7

Panasonic GX850

Panasonic GF7

$548
4/3

Shoot 4K video
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

$590
4/3

Fast startup
Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic GF7

Compare Other Cameras?