Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A390

Its time to look more in depth at the Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A390, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the 3D1 (12MP) and the A390 (14MP) is very close but the 3D1 (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) offer different sensor size.

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The 3D1 was revealed 16 months later than the A390 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic 3D1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a complete comparison, here is a concise summary of how the 3D1 scores vs the A390 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A390. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic 3D1 Gallery & Sony A390 Gallery.

When you are aiming to lug around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic 3D1 comes with outer dimensions of 108mm x 58mm x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs) while the Sony A390 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A390 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the 3D1 compared to the A390.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the 3D1 and A390 is 93 and 66 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to picture the gap in sensor measurements merely by looking through technical specs. The photograph below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the 3D1 and A390.

As you have seen, both of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The 3D1 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony A390 will provide you with greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images way more aggressively. The newer 3D1 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.