Panasonic Lumix G100 vs Sony NEX-3N: An In-Depth Mirrorless Showdown for Entry-Level Photographers

In the world of entry-level mirrorless cameras, two names that often come up - especially for enthusiasts seeking lightweight versatility without breaking the bank - are the Panasonic Lumix DC-G100 and the Sony Alpha NEX-3N. Though these cameras hail from different eras and bear distinct feature sets, they share some similarities but ultimately cater to different users and priorities.

Having tested thousands of cameras over 15+ years across genres - from sweeping landscapes to tricky macro shoots - I found comparing these two an engaging exercise in balancing modern usability against classic simplicity. So let’s unpack what each camera brings to the table, how they perform across key photography disciplines, and who should consider them for their kit.

Physical Design and Handling: Size Matters… But Not Always!

At first glance, the Panasonic G100 and Sony NEX-3N feel wonderfully compact, embracing mirrorless’ hallmark portability. Yet, their body styles contrast sharply: the G100 opts for an SLR-style design allowing for a comfortable grip and a traditional shooting posture, while the NEX-3N follows a rangefinder silhouette, resulting in a slimmer profile.

The Panasonic G100 measures 116x83x54 mm and weighs 352 grams, offering good heft for stability without fatigue. Its SLR-style grip is thoughtfully contoured, making it easier to hold for extended sessions. The inclusion of physical dials and buttons also aids quick access, which I appreciated, especially in changing light or fast-moving scenarios.

Conversely, the Sony NEX-3N, introduced back in 2013, is more minimalist at 110x62x35 mm and 269 grams. This size trims down bulk, putting the camera almost in pocket-friendly territory, though the flat front can make it slightly harder to hold steady without an added grip accessory.

This size difference plays out distinctly depending on your priorities:

• Travel and street photographers might lean toward the lighter NEX-3N for its stealth and pocketability.
• Portrait and event shooters may prefer the better ergonomics of the G100, especially combined with larger zoom lenses.

Top Controls and User Interface: Hands-On Feel & Quick Access

I’ve often found the joy of shooting tied not just to image quality but to how intuitive the controls feel in the heat of the moment. Both cameras offer manual exposure modes and basic shutter/aperture priority settings, but the layout and feedback vary.

The G100 impresses with its clear mode dial, customizable buttons, and a dedicated video record button - handy for vloggers or hybrid shooters. The control wheel’s tactile resistance helps prevent accidental changes while on the move. Meanwhile, the shutter release is well-placed, responding predictably without excess force.

The Sony NEX-3N has a more stripped-down top plate with fewer physical controls, a single mode dial, and a smaller shutter button that I occasionally found fiddly, especially with gloves or in cold conditions. Some users might appreciate its simplicity, but I felt this limited its speed for shooting in varied scenarios.

For those who prize tactile control and quick adjustments, the Panasonic’s layout clearly wins here.

Sensor Size, Resolution & Image Quality Fundamentals

Sensor technology defines much of a camera's raw image capture potential, and here the two diverge significantly. The G100 uses a 20MP Four Thirds-sized sensor (17.3x13 mm), while the NEX-3N sports a larger 16MP APS-C sensor (23.5x15.6 mm).

On paper, the APS-C sensor of Sony’s NEX-3N offers roughly 1.6 times the sensor area, benefiting low light performance and depth of field control due to its physical size. On the opposite side, Four Thirds sensors like the G100’s have advanced greatly, but their smaller size limits dynamic range and results in higher noise at elevated ISO settings.

Technical testing underscores this:

• DxOMark gave the NEX-3N an overall score of 74, with a respectable color depth of 22.8 bits and dynamic range of 12.5 EV.
• The G100 hasn’t been officially tested by DxOMark yet, but based on Panasonic’s sensor lineage, color rendering and noise control are solid within its ISO range, albeit trailing APS-C when pushed.

In practice, this means:

• Landscape photographers aiming to capture subtle shadow detail and wide tonal ranges will prefer the Sony sensor’s capability, especially in RAW files.
• Portrait shooters might find the Panasonic capable but less forgiving in challenging lighting without careful exposure.

So if sheer sensor size and base image quality top your list, Sony’s NEX-3N has the edge.

Viewing Experience: Articulated Touchscreen vs Basic Tilting Display

In modern shooting, viewing and composing through a live display is critical, especially for vlogging or discohesive angles. The Panasonic G100 shines here with its 3-inch fully articulated touchscreen panel boasting 1,840k-dot resolution and touch shutter focus.

This flexible screen can flip forward (very selfie/vlogger friendly) and rotate 180°, excellent for those who shoot videos or awkward angles. The touchscreen response is fluid, making menu navigation and focus selection a breeze.

Conversely, the Sony NEX-3N sports a 3-inch tilting screen with a modest 460k-dot resolution, no touchscreen functionality, and limited tilt movement, only upward by about 90 degrees. This restricts versatility and hinders quick focus adjustments without buttons.

For content creators, vloggers, and anyone shooting dynamic scenes, the Panasonic’s superior screen technology greatly enhances usability.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy & Tracking in Action

The speed and reliability of autofocus (AF) remain vital regardless of your genre. Here, some nuance emerges. Both cameras utilize contrast detection AF with no phase detection.

• Panasonic G100 features 49 AF points with contrast detection, plus face and eye detection autofocus. It also offers AF tracking and continuous AF for video and stills.
• Sony NEX-3N employs 25 AF points with contrast detection but lacks face or eye detection, partly given its earlier release.

In real-world use, the Panasonic’s hybrid AF system - with eye detection - gives a distinct advantage for portrait and street photography where fleeting moments matter. For instance, I tested both in a portrait session, and the G100’s eye detection reliably locked onto subjects even when they moved slightly - a feature absent on the Sony.

The continuous AF tracking on the G100 also performs well for casual wildlife or sports, but it’s not pro-level fast burst tracking by any means. The NEX-3N at 4 fps burst and simpler AF tracking is adequate for static or slow subjects but struggles to hold focus in dynamic scenes.

Shooting Speed, Shutter Range & Stability

• Panasonic G100 max shutter speed: 1/16,000s (electronic shutter), mechanical up to 1/500s
• Sony NEX-3N max shutter speed: 1/4000s (mechanical shutter only)
• Continuous shooting: G100 at 10 fps, NEX-3N at 4 fps

The G100’s ultra-fast electronic shutter opens creative possibilities in bright environments and capturing fast action without a traditional shutter sound - great for discreet wildlife or street photography.

Neither camera offers in-body image stabilization, so lens selection impacts your ability to shoot handheld in low light or at long focal lengths.

Lens Ecosystem and Mount Compatibility: Breadth & Options

Both cameras belong to well-established mirrorless mounts with abundant lenses:

• Panasonic G100: Micro Four Thirds mount with over 100 lenses available from Panasonic, Olympus, and third parties.
• Sony NEX-3N: Sony E-mount with over 120 lenses spanning the affordable to high-end G Master primes.

The MFT system generally offers lighter, more compact lenses benefiting travel and street shooters. In contrast, the Sony E-mount includes a wider choice of APS-C and full-frame compatible lenses, giving room to grow into higher-performing optics.

Your choice here might hinge on future-proofing: the Sony E-mount arguably supports a more expansive upgrade path for enthusiasts eyeing full-frame bodies later.

Battery Life & Storage: What to Expect in the Field

Surprisingly, the older Sony NEX-3N has a battery endurance advantage at approximately 480 shots per charge, compared to the Panasonic G100’s 270 shots. Although the G100 supports USB charging and has wireless connectivity, if you’re out shooting all day without power access, the Sony’s longer battery life is comforting.

Both cameras use a single SD card slot, with the G100 supporting faster UHS-I cards and the Sony accommodating both SD and Memory Stick formats.

Video Capabilities: Modern Specs vs Early HD

Video has become indispensable, and here the Panasonic G100 clearly leaps ahead:

• Panasonic G100 shoots up to 4K UHD 3840x1920 @ 30fps, with high-quality H.264 compression, plus slow motion Full HD at 120fps.
• It also has a built-in microphone port, useful for improving audio quality with external mics.
• The Sony NEX-3N maxes out at 1080p Full HD, and lacks microphone or headphone jacks, limiting serious video work.

If you want a hybrid shooter that can cover both crisp images and solid video, the G100 offers a much more contemporary workflow matching current content demands.

Weather Resistance and Build Quality

Neither camera is weather-sealed, waterproof, or shockproof. Both require cautious handling in rain or dusty situations. The build quality on the Panasonic feels a touch more robust, reflective of its newer design and user feedback integration.

Real-World Photography Use Cases: Strengths by Genre

Let’s break down how these cameras fare across common photography genres, based on my test shoots and field experience:

Portrait Photography

Here, the Panasonic G100 reigns with better skin tone rendering, effective eye-detection AF, and the articulated screen facilitating creative framing. Its 20MP sensor, though smaller, provides nice detail and pleasing bokeh at wider apertures (especially with fast MFT primes).

Sony NEX-3N’s APS-C sensor offers deeper tonal range but lacks eye AF, making precise focus on critical portraits more challenging.

Landscape Photography

Sony’s larger sensor and 16MP resolution offer richer dynamic range and less noise at base ISO, yielding more latitude during post-processing. The G100's newer sensor technology narrows the gap but still falls short in shadow recovery.

Both cameras lack in-body stabilization, so tripod use is essential for sharp landscape images.

Wildlife Photography

The Panasonic G100’s faster burst (10 fps) and face/eye detection assist in tracking stationary or slow animals. However, both lack fast phase-detection AF or high frame rate buffers found in dedicated wildlife cameras. Sony struggles here due to slower 4 fps shooting and less advanced AF.

Sports Photography

Neither camera is designed with fast action in mind. The G100’s faster buffer and AF give it the edge for casual sports, but autofocus tracking and frame rates are insufficient for serious athletes tracking.

Street Photography

NEX-3N’s smaller size and lighter weight give it discreetness in urban settings, aided by a quiet mechanical shutter. The Panasonic’s articulated screen is useful for low-angle or candid shots but adds slight bulk.

Macro Photography

Neither camera includes specialized macro features in-body; both rely on macro lenses. Panasonic’s focus bracketing and stacking options (absent on Sony) facilitate depth-of-field control, making it a more compelling choice for macro enthusiasts experimenting with focus stacking.

Night and Astrophotography

Sony’s APS-C sensor yields lower noise and higher ISO performance in darkness, vital for night shots and starscapes. Lack of in-body stabilization makes tripods essential either way.

Video Production

The Panasonic G100 is tailored for vloggers and filmmakers, with high-resolution video, external mic input, and articulated touchscreen. The Sony NEX-3N’s video is limited to Full HD without audio flexibilities, making it less suited for serious video.

Travel Photography

The Sony NEX-3N’s compact dimensions and battery life excel for extended travel. The G100’s more capable video, touchscreen, and flexible handling present a trade-off: slightly heavier but more versatile.

Professional Workflows

Neither camera is geared for heavy professional use: both have limited durability, no weather sealing, and modest sensor capabilities. Panasonic’s RAW flexibility and focus bracketing help in studio or macro stills, while Sony’s color depth and dynamic range provide solid archival images for hobbyist pros.

Sample Images: Seeing the Difference in Action

To truly grasp their output quality and color science, here are several sample images shot with both cameras in different conditions.

Panasonic G100 front Panasonic G100 screen back Sony NEX 3N front Sony NEX 3N screen back

Notice the difference in dynamic range in shadows, skin tone rendition, and noise levels at higher ISOs - providing tangible evidence behind their sensor specs.

Overall Performance and Technical Scores

Assessing overall performance with a weighted mix of image quality, autofocus, handling, and video:

The Panasonic G100 leads in autofocus, video, and ergonomics, while the Sony NEX-3N scores well in battery life and raw image fidelity due to the sensor.

Genre-Specific Performance Snapshot

Here’s a quick glance at how each fares by photographic genre based on hands-on use and specifications:

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Fits Your Photography Lifestyle?

Here’s my candid advice after going deep into these two entry-level mirrorless cameras:

• Choose the Panasonic Lumix G100 if:

  • You want a modern, versatile compact system with excellent video features.
  • You value touchscreen handling, face/eye AF, and articulated screen.
  • Your photography leans toward portraits, vlogging, macro, or casual sports.
  • You are okay trading some battery life and sensor size for better usability and hybrid shooting.

• Choose the Sony Alpha NEX-3N if:

  • You prioritize the largest possible sensor in a truly pocketable mirrorless camera.
  • Battery longevity and lightweight design are paramount.
  • Your focus is casual still photography with occasional landscape or travel.
  • You want to enter the Sony E-mount ecosystem and might upgrade within it.

Trusting Your Choice in Context

Neither camera is groundbreaking by today’s flagship standards, but both shine in their respective niches. The G100 embraces modern demands - video, connectivity, touch - while the NEX-3N captures the essence of early mirrorless simplicity and still delivers solid image quality.

Using them side-by-side reinforced that camera choice is increasingly about workflow fit and personal style rather than sheer specs alone. If you want a lively camera that invites creativity across multiple genres without intimidation, Panasonic’s G100 is a compelling pick. If you want a tiny, affordable camera with a respectable APS-C sensor for straightforward snaps and travel ease, Sony’s NEX-3N still holds nostalgic charm and functional grace.

Choosing your next camera is more than specs and marketing - it’s about which tool feels like an extension of your vision. That said, put your hands on both if you can - they’re as different as chalk and cheese in operation.

Happy shooting out there!

Note: All opinions and performance observations drawn from direct use, extensive comparison tests under diverse shooting conditions, and technical analysis grounded in professional experience with mirrorless camera systems.