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Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A57

Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
36
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A57 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 A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Announced September 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony A55
  • Refreshed by Sony A58
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Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A57 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Panasonic 3D1 versus Sony A57, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the 3D1 (12MP) and A57 (16MP) and the 3D1 (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizing.

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The 3D1 was unveiled 10 months earlier than the A57 and they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic 3D1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the 3D1 scores versus the A57 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic 3D1 over the Sony A57

 3D1 A57 
Screen dimensions3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Panasonic 3D1

 A57 3D1 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012November 2011Newer by 10 months
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Panasonic 3D1 and Sony A57

 3D1 A57 

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic 3D1 offers outside dimensions of 108mm x 58mm x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") having a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs) whilst the Sony A57 has specifications of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") and a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic 3D1 versus Sony A57 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at the time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the 3D1 and the A57.

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 3D1 and A57 is 93 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to picture the difference in sensor dimensions merely by seeing a spec sheet. The pic below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the 3D1 and A57.

Clearly, the 2 cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The 3D1 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony A57 will produce greater detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged 3D1 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Portrait photography factors
Sony A57 Portrait photography factors
26
comes with face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Street photography advice
Sony A57 Street photography advice
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features touch focus
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
75
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Sports photography details
Sony A57 Sports photography details
30
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
78
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic 3D1
Travel photography with Sony A57
59
features touch focus
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
resolution not great (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
67
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Landscape photography info
Sony A57 Landscape photography info
35
decently wide (25mm)
bigger than average screen (3.5 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
manual exposure not available
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
terrible battery life (200 shots)
no Time Lapse function
72
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
missing Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Vlogging features
Sony A57 Vlogging features
34
decently wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
display is not selfie friendly
no external mic jack
77
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has microphone support
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Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic 3D1 and Sony A57
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 Sony SLT-A57
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-11-07 2012-09-13
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.9-5.7 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Full Touch Screen with AR coating Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 193g (0.43 lb) 618g (1.36 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 58 x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 75
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 785
Other
Battery life 200 photographs 550 photographs
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/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $670 $1,000