Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A350

Following is a in-depth comparison of the Panasonic 3D1 versus Sony A350, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the 3D1 (12MP) and the A350 (14MP) is relatively close but the 3D1 (1/2.3") and A350 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The 3D1 was announced 3 years after the A350 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic 3D1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A350 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the 3D1 matches up vs the A350 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A350. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic 3D1 Gallery and Sony A350 Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic 3D1 provides outside measurements of 108mm x 58mm x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs) while the Sony A350 has dimensions of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 674 grams (1.49 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic 3D1 versus Sony A350 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the 3D1 against the A350.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 3D1 and A350 is 93 and 62 respectively.

Typically, it can be difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes only by looking through a spec sheet. The picture below will give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the 3D1 and A350.

As you can see, both the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The 3D1 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF harder and the Sony A350 will render greater detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more recent 3D1 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.