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Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A850

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
36
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A850 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
  • Revealed November 2011
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Launched April 2010
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Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A850 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A850, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the 3D1 (12MP) and A850 (25MP) and the 3D1 (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) offer different sensor sizing.

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The 3D1 was introduced 20 months later than the A850 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic 3D1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the 3D1 grades vs the A850 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic 3D1 over the Sony A850

 3D1 A850 
LaunchedNovember 2011April 2010Fresher by 20 months
Display dimensions3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Panasonic 3D1

 A850 3D1 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display resolution922k460kSharper display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic 3D1 and Sony A850

 3D1 A850 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic 3D1 enjoys outside measurements of 108mm x 58mm x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs) whilst the Sony A850 has dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A850 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the 3D1 against the A850.

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 3D1 and A850 is 93 and 54 respectively.

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing merely by reading a spec sheet. The photograph below may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the 3D1 and A850.

As you can see, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The 3D1 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A850 will offer extra detail using its extra 13 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The younger 3D1 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A850 Portrait photography highlights
27
includes face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
72
has manual focus
excellent MP (25MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW files
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic 3D1
Street photography with Sony A850
61
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus via touch
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Sports photography information
Sony A850 Sports photography information
30
image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300s)
no shutter priority
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (200 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
71
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
excellent MP (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
weather proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic 3D1
Travel photography with Sony A850
59
comes with focus via touch
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery power (200 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
55
weather proofing
excellent MP (25 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic 3D1
Landscape photography with Sony A850
36
really wide (25mm)
very good size screen (3.5 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
manual exposure not available
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
low battery power (200 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
excellent MP (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
no liveview
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Vlogging features
Sony A850 Vlogging features
34
really wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone support
9
no video
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Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic 3D1 and Sony A850
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2011-11-07 2010-04-15
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 25 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 6048 x 4032
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.9-5.7 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.5" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Full Touch Screen with AR coating TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 193 gr (0.43 lbs) 895 gr (1.97 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 58 x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 1415
Other
Battery life 200 pictures 880 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Two
Cost at release $670 $0