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Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A500

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
36
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Panasonic 3D1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.9-5.7) lens
  • 193g - 108 x 58 x 24mm
  • Introduced November 2011
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched August 2009
  • Renewed by Sony A560
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Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A500 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Panasonic 3D1 versus Sony A500, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the 3D1 (12MP) and the A500 (12MP) is pretty comparable but the 3D1 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The 3D1 was unveiled 2 years later than the A500 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic 3D1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summation of how the 3D1 matches up versus the A500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic 3D1 over the Sony A500

 3D1 A500 
LaunchedNovember 2011August 2009Fresher by 27 months
Screen size3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Panasonic 3D1

 A500 3D1 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Panasonic 3D1 and Sony A500

 3D1 A500 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic 3D1 features 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) whilst the Sony A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic 3D1 versus Sony A500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose during that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the 3D1 compared to the A500.

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the 3D1 and A500 is 93 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to picture the contrast in sensor sizing merely by going through specs. The graphic below will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the 3D1 and A500.

All in all, each of these cameras come with the identical resolution albeit different sensor sizing. The 3D1 includes the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow depth of field trickier. The younger 3D1 should have an edge in sensor technology.

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
27
supports face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
63
has manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Street photography advice
Sony A500 Street photography advice
61
image stabilization (Optical)
includes focus via touch
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
74
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Sports photography factors
Sony A500 Sports photography factors
30
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300 seconds)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (200 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery pack (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
59
includes focus via touch
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (200 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
43
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (520 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Landscape photography factors
Sony A500 Landscape photography factors
36
decently wide (25mm)
very good size screen (3.5 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
manual mode not available
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
terrible battery pack (200 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
60
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery pack (520 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Vlogging details
Sony A500 Vlogging details
34
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
9
lack of video recording
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Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic 3D1 and Sony A500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-11-07 2009-08-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.9-5.7 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Full Touch Screen with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1300s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed - 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 193 grams (0.43 lb) 630 grams (1.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 58 x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 772
Other
Battery life 200 shots 520 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $670 $638