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Panasonic G9 vs Sony A57

Portability
62
Imaging
60
Features
90
Overall
72
Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Panasonic G9 vs Sony A57 Key Specs

Panasonic G9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 658g - 137 x 97 x 92mm
  • Introduced November 2017
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Launched September 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony A55
  • New Model is Sony A58
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Panasonic G9 vs Sony A57 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Panasonic G9 versus Sony A57, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the G9 (20MP) and A57 (16MP) and the G9 (Four Thirds) and A57 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor size.

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The G9 was launched 5 years later than the A57 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic G9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the G9 grades versus the A57 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic G9 over the Sony A57

 G9 A57 
LaunchedNovember 2017September 2012More recent by 63 months
Screen resolution1040k921kCrisper screen (+119k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Panasonic G9

 A57 G9 

Common features in the Panasonic G9 and Sony A57

 G9 A57 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Panasonic G9 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic G9 has got external measurements of 137mm x 97mm x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 658 grams (1.45 lbs) whilst the Sony A57 has sizing of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") along with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Check the Panasonic G9 versus Sony A57 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the G9 vs the A57.

Panasonic G9 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the G9 and A57 is 62 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic G9 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G9 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to envision the difference in sensor measurements just by seeing specs. The graphic below will help offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the G9 and A57.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The G9 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic G9 will show more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs more aggressively. The more recent G9 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic G9 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G9 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G9 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G9 Portrait photography factors
Sony A57 Portrait photography factors
76
has manual focus
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
74
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G9 as a Street photography camera
Sony A57 as a Street photography camera
75
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes touch focus
weather proof
very good ISO range (25,600)
75
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G9 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A57 as a Sports photography camera
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (20.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
bad battery life (400 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
supports phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G9 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A57 as a Travel photography camera
70
weather proof
supports bluetooth
includes touch focus
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
bad battery life (400 shots)
67
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G9 Landscape photography factors
Sony A57 Landscape photography factors
76
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
has double storage slots
bad battery life (400 per charge)
72
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G9 Vlogging advice
Sony A57 Vlogging advice
76
display is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has microphone port
77
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic jack
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Panasonic G9 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G9 and Sony A57
 Panasonic Lumix DC-G9Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 Sony SLT-A57
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2017-11-08 2012-09-13
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 16000
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 225 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 3,680k dot 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.83x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 20.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 658 grams (1.45 pounds) 618 grams (1.36 pounds)
Physical dimensions 137 x 97 x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 785
Other
Battery life 400 photographs 550 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DMW-BLF19 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Dual Single
Launch pricing $1,500 $1,000