Sony A58 vs Panasonic GM5

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Sony A58 vs Panasonic GM5

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APS-C 366.6mm²
20.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 16,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A58 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A58 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A58.
Compare Sony A58 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A58 conclusion.

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

Go in depth with our full Panasonic GM5 Review.
How does it shoot? Panasonic GM5 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the GM5.
Compare Panasonic GM5 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Panasonic GM5 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Sony A68
Compare A58 vs A68
Compare Sony A68 vs Panasonic GM5

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Differences

Sony A58 advantages over Panasonic GM5

Less expensive
$600 vs $899 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Larger sensor
APS-C 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
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
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

700 vs 220 shots
Capture more photos
More telephoto lens reach
83 mm vs 64 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Higher max flash sync
1/160 vs 1/50 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Less shutter lag
0.13 vs 0.22 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.57x vs 0.46x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
20.1 vs 16.0 megapixels
Higher resolution photos

Panasonic GM5 advantages over Sony A58

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
~1.00 vs 1.9 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Thinner
36 mm vs 77 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
294g vs 731g
Lighter weight
Higher-res screen
307k vs 154k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Wider angle kit lens
24 mm vs 27 mm
Capture more of the scene with the included lens
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
5.7 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
56 vs 8 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 16000 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-camera panoramas
Both provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
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

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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
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

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Buy the Sony A58

Kit with 18-55mm Lens

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Buy the Panasonic GM5

Panasonic GM5

Review Excerpt

Improved 20.1-megapixel resolution; Impressive image quality, especially for its price; Fast and decisive autofocus (in most conditions); Very good battery life; Good video quality (Full HD 1080p, though it doesn't support 60p frame rate).
Plastic lens mount; Slower burst mode speeds and shallower buffer than A57; LCD no longer fully articulating; Mediocre kit lens; Electronic instead of an optical viewfinder may be a turnoff for some.
Read our Sony A58 Review

Great image quality for a tiny camera; Excellent high ISO for its class; Built-in EVF; Built-in hot-shoe; Improved ergonomics; Improved image quality for long exposures; Improved burst rate with hybrid shutter; 1080/60p video.
Slightly bigger than GM1 (but not by much); No built-in flash; Shallow buffers with RAW files; Dynamic range not quite as good as some competing models; Below average battery life.
Read our Panasonic GM5 Review

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Sony A58

Pentax K-5 IIs

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A58 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Panasonic GM5

Pentax K-5 IIs

$898
4/3

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$497
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Compared to Nikon D5200

Sony A58

Nikon D5200

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$500
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A58 vs Nikon D5200

Panasonic GM5

Nikon D5200

$898
4/3

Focus peaking
Touchscreen

$500
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Nikon D5200

Compared to Canon T5i

Sony A58

Canon T5i

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$539
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A58 vs Canon T5i

Panasonic GM5

Canon T5i

$898
4/3

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$539
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Canon T5i

Compared to Panasonic GM1

Sony A58

Panasonic GM1

$598
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

$479
4/3

Lens selection
Touchscreen

Compare Sony A58 vs Panasonic GM1

Panasonic GM5

Panasonic GM1

$898
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
In-camera panoramas

$479
4/3

Less expensive
Internal flash

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic GM1

Compared to Panasonic GF7

Sony A58

Panasonic GF7

$598
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$590
4/3

Lens selection
Touchscreen

Compare Sony A58 vs Panasonic GF7

Panasonic GM5

Panasonic GF7

$898
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Hot shoe

$590
4/3

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic GF7

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