NEX 5R or Panasonic G5

[TokyoBoston]

I've only used point and shoots up until now, but would like to move up. The main use of the camera are:

1. Photos and videos of my baby boy

2. Time lapse photography

I've spent too much time figuring out which camera to get. I initially started looking at the Canon T3i, since there is a hacking community for Canons. Then I wanted something smaller and possibly something my wife could use. Due to sheer exhaustion of searching for cameras I've narrowed my search to either the Sony 5R or Panasonic G5.

NEX Positives:

-Better IQ

-Peeking (or something like that to make manual focusing easier)

-More compact

-Apps (time lapse, although it's limited to 999 shots)

-Wifi (I'd like to know if pictures can be sent to my Mac after every shoot during a time lapse session. The sessions can last a couple of days so I don't think it will all fit in 32GB card.)

-Large community (Tons of NEX reviews and Youtube results)

NEX Negatives:

-No wired remote shutter (Must use a IR blaster for remote shutter)

-No viewfinder

-Not a fan of Sony (Just something about them rubs me the wrong way)

G5 Positives:

-Viewfinder

-Good video

-Fully articulating screen

-Remote shutter input

G5 Negatives:

-Very small community. This site doesn't even have a dedicated forum section for G series.

-Everyone seems to not like the kit 14-42 lens.

-IQ is not the best

-No Wifi

The pricing between the two are close. With the announcement of the G6 the G5 two lens bundle is $600. The NEX has two, one lens bundles for $600 and for $500. I'd go with the $500 since I don't think a camera bag and 16GB card is worth $100 (could be wrong).

The G6 is tempting as it has a time lapse feature. It also appears to have the ability to upload a photo after every shot. The remote viewing isn't that important to me. The price of $750 is a stretch but doable. I know if I wait it will come down but my kids growing by the day. I even thought about two NEX f3s used for $300 each, one for the kid and the other for time lapse (I can't take a photo or video of the kid if my only camera is taking a picture of a flower for two days).

I'd like to hear people's thoughts.

 

[pcake]

i had a NEX 5R and sold it. i bought an E-PM2, which i'm happier with. i found the NEX 5R in the real world didn't focus or lock focus for me all that fast or well, although it did great in best buy and samy's cameras. the high ISO / low light pics weren't as clean as the 5N, lens selection wasn't inspiring, but i could have lived with that if i'd liked the camera. the 5R is very comfortable in the hand for me, but so is the G5. and the G5 screen is very useful - i had a G3 and really missed the screen when i was using the 5R.

that being said, i find my little olympus E-PM2 focuses faster than my NEX 5R or my panasonic G3, and locks focus almost every time, which neither of the other cameras did with anything challenging. and surprisingly, i like the oly kit lens more than either my panny 14-45 or 14-42 or my sony 18-55.

btw, the sony manual is dismal, and the menus are quite challenging. i always found panasonic menus to be pretty intuitive.

as far as the G6, wait till it's out and see what owners have to say. there's more to a camera than specs.

 

[areichow]

Just out of curiosity, where can you get a 5R kit for $500?

Also, to piggyback on the E-PM2 comment: the E-PM2 and E-PL5 have a builtin intervalometer, I believe.

 

[agentul]

TokyoBoston wrote:

-Peeking (or something like that to make manual focusing easier)

Panasonic has a "focus zoom" system (at least on the GH2, I don't know about the G5) that zooms into the designated focus area in MF mode. What I found, however, was that the camera automatically focuses there anyway, so on good light your job is pretty much done - all you have to do is press the shutter button. Also, the magnification factor can be adjusted, so that makes it even more versatile. You can play with the manual focus easily and make whatever changes you want, and if you can see a sharp image on the viewfinder it will be sharp on the computer also*.

* - provided your subject doesn't move, you don't shake the camera too much when you operate it, you don't end up with a lens-shutter speed value that introduces shutter shock, etc. any amount of manual focus aids will not make these go away.

 

[Just Having Fun]

Time lapses use hundreds/thousands of shutter actuations each time. They add up fast and mechanical shutter do not last forever. (For a 3 minute video at 24 fps you need over 4000 images).

The G5 IIRC (I know the GH3 does) has an electronic shutter with no moving parts making it perfect for time lapses.

 

[TokyoBoston]

Oops, the $500 was only for the body. $600 is with the one lens kit.

Loading…

store.sony.com

 

[alcelc]

agentul wrote:

TokyoBoston wrote:

-Peeking (or something like that to make manual focusing easier)

Panasonic has a "focus zoom" system (at least on the GH2, I don't know about the G5) that zooms into the designated focus area in MF mode. What I found, however, was that the camera automatically focuses there anyway, so on good light your job is pretty much done - all you have to do is press the shutter button. Also, the magnification factor can be adjusted, so that makes it even more versatile. You can play with the manual focus easily and make whatever changes you want, and if you can see a sharp image on the viewfinder it will be sharp on the computer also*.

* - provided your subject doesn't move, you don't shake the camera too much when you operate it, you don't end up with a lens-shutter speed value that introduces shutter shock, etc. any amount of manual focus aids will not make these go away.

G6 has peeking.

 

[alcelc]

agentul wrote:

TokyoBoston wrote:

-Peeking (or something like that to make manual focusing easier)

Panasonic has a "focus zoom" system (at least on the GH2, I don't know about the G5) that zooms into the designated focus area in MF mode. What I found, however, was that the camera automatically focuses there anyway, so on good light your job is pretty much done - all you have to do is press the shutter button. Also, the magnification factor can be adjusted, so that makes it even more versatile. You can play with the manual focus easily and make whatever changes you want, and if you can see a sharp image on the viewfinder it will be sharp on the computer also*.

* - provided your subject doesn't move, you don't shake the camera too much when you operate it, you don't end up with a lens-shutter speed value that introduces shutter shock, etc. any amount of manual focus aids will not make these go away.

The touch screen shutter (GF2 onward models) is very useful in taking baby pictures. Look at the LCD (in case of G5 onward, can look at the evf and use finger to touch the LCD simultaneous), touch the baby's face on the LCD and done. Quick and clean without any hassle.

Dear agentul, if I am not wrong, since GF2 all panny body support focus zoom. The pin point focus (if using the smallest box) is also very useful indeed.

 

[pcb_dpr]

These cameras are different enough that you really need to try/handle both, you can't decide from a pos/neg list. Is the NEX 5R LCD usable for you outdoors in bright light? Do you need an EVF? Is the G5 touch screen compelling or a nuisance? How do the menu systems work for you? How do they feel in your hand? How easy is it to set/change aperture, shutter speed, etc? How much better is the 5R IQ in relation to your uses/needs?

The NEX bodies are smaller, but most of the lenses are larger, especially when you move into longer zooms and primes. Panny also has a significantly larger selection of lenses, including both Panny and Olympus lenses.

If you like the G5 over the 5R, it might be worthwhile waiting for the G6. They should handle very similarly, so if the G6 improvements make sense to you, maybe wait? If you like the 5R over the G5, especially for handling, no reason to wait for the G6.

TokyoBoston wrote:
...I've narrowed my search to either the Sony 5R or Panasonic G5.
NEX Positives:
NEX Negatives:
G5 Positives:
G5 Negatives:
The pricing between the two are close. With the announcement of the G6 the G5 two lens bundle is $600...The G6 is tempting as it has a time lapse feature. It also appears to have the ability to upload a photo after every shot...I'd like to hear people's thoughts.

 

[agentul]

alcelc wrote:

The touch screen shutter (GF2 onward models) is very useful in taking baby pictures. Look at the LCD (in case of G5 onward, can look at the evf and use finger to touch the LCD simultaneous), touch the baby's face on the LCD and done. Quick and clean without any hassle.

i used it recently to take pictures of snails on the ground. i liked the ability to quickly switch focus between different portions of its body without moving the focus zone with the buttons like i normally do. you don't even have to use your finger and soil the screen - i used the "stylus" that my GH2 came with. it actually works better because it allows for greater precision.

 

[zackiedawg]

First, honestly it should come down to which fits you best - handle them if you can and see which you like the feel of. Consider the features you get for the price - if one has more of the features that matter to you, that helps the decision. Do take with a grain of salt the recommendations you get on forums - posting in a Micro4:3 forum will clearly get you more bias in favor of that model...post the same question in the NEX forum and you'll get clear bias in that model's favor. It's really up to you as both are fine cameras with good IQ and good features, but one might be better for you.

The second caveat is that if you honestly just hold a personal preconception or bias against a brand name, regardless of that product's viability or excellence, that will forever color your view, your expectations, and your reaction to difficulties or learning curves. Whether or not there's any legitimacy behind the reason for disliking the brand, it doesn't seem worth buying into the brand with that mindset, so I'd say you're not one for buying a Sony model just because you already have a dislike just because their name is on it. Starting out negative with a new product won't do you or Sony any favors.

You're not going to get a bad camera either way...don't worry.