Sony DSLR-A500 vs Panasonic GM5

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Sony DSLR-A500 vs Panasonic GM5

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APS-C 369.7mm²
12.3 megapixels
ISO 200 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Sony DSLR-A500 Review.

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.

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Differences

Sony DSLR-A500 advantages over Panasonic GM5

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
Bigger pixels
~ 5.55 vs 3.77 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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

1000 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
Higher max flash sync
1/160 vs 1/50 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
More viewfinder magnification
0.53x vs 0.46x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder

Panasonic GM5 advantages over Sony DSLR-A500

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
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
Thinner
36 mm vs 84 mm
Thinner
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
Lighter weight
294g vs 900g
Lighter weight
More dots on screen
922k vs 230k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
More pixels
16.0 vs 12.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
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 5 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 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
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

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
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

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Buy the Sony DSLR-A500

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Buy the Panasonic GM5

Panasonic GM5

Review Excerpt

We haven’t reviewed the Sony DSLR-A500.
Read our Sony DSLR-A500 Initial Test

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 K20D

Sony DSLR-A500

Pentax K20D

$850
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
Higher effective ISO

$800
APS-C

Lens selection
Top deck display

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 vs Pentax K20D

Panasonic GM5

Pentax K20D

$898
4/3

Focus peaking
Touchscreen

$800
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K20D

Compared to Sony DSLR-A550

Sony DSLR-A500

Sony DSLR-A550

$850
APS-C

Less expensive

$859
APS-C

More dots on screen
More pixels

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 vs Sony DSLR-A550

Panasonic GM5

Sony DSLR-A550

$898
4/3

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$859
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Sony DSLR-A550

Compared to Sony DSLR-A560

Sony DSLR-A500

Sony DSLR-A560

$850
APS-C

Fast startup
Less shutter lag

$750
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
More cross-type AF points

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 vs Sony DSLR-A560

Panasonic GM5

Sony DSLR-A560

$898
4/3

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$750
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Sony DSLR-A560

Compared to Panasonic GM1

Sony DSLR-A500

Panasonic GM1

$850
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$479
4/3

Lens selection
Focus peaking

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 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 DSLR-A500

Panasonic GF7

$850
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$590
4/3

Lens selection
Focus peaking

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 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

Compare Other Cameras?