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Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A68

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
36
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 front
 
Sony SLT-A68 front
Portability
64
Imaging
66
Features
70
Overall
67

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A68 Key Specs

Panasonic 3D1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • 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 A68
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 610g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Announced November 2015
  • Superseded the Sony A65
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Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A68 Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A68, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the 3D1 (12MP) and A68 (24MP) and the 3D1 (1/2.3") and A68 (APS-C) feature different sensor dimensions.

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The 3D1 was unveiled 5 years before the A68 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic 3D1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A68 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a quick summary of how the 3D1 matches up against the A68 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic 3D1 over the Sony A68

 3D1 A68 
Display sizing3.5"2.7"Larger display (+0.8")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A68 over the Panasonic 3D1

 A68 3D1 
AnnouncedNovember 2015November 2011Fresher by 48 months
Focus manually More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution461k460kSharper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic 3D1 and Sony A68

 3D1 A68 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A68 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic 3D1 enjoys physical dimensions of 108mm x 58mm x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs) and the Sony A68 has measurements of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") having a weight of 610 grams (1.34 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A68 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the 3D1 compared to the A68.

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A68 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 3D1 and A68 is 93 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A68 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A68 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing purely by viewing specs. The photograph here should give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the 3D1 and A68.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The 3D1 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh harder and the Sony A68 will result in extra detail having an extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The older 3D1 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A68 sensor size comparison

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A68 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A68 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Portrait photography information
Sony A68 Portrait photography information
27
features face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
79
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 as a Street photography camera
Sony A68 as a Street photography camera
61
image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus by touch
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
77
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Sports photography info
Sony A68 Sports photography info
30
image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300s)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (200 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect autofocus
terrible battery (510 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Travel photography information
Sony A68 Travel photography information
59
offers focus by touch
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (200 shots)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
54
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
terrible battery (510 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic 3D1 Landscape photography advice
Sony A68 Landscape photography advice
36
relatively wide (25mm)
lovely big screen (3.5 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
no manual exposure
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
67
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
terrible battery (510 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic 3D1
Vlogging with Sony A68
34
relatively wide (25mm)
touch screen
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic port
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony A68 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic 3D1 and Sony A68
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1Sony SLT-A68
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 Sony SLT-A68
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-11-07 2015-11-06
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 79
Cross type focus points - 15
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.9-5.7 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3.5" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT Full Touch Screen with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1300 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 8.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Flash off, Auto, Fill-flash, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Rear sync, Wireless, High Speed sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 30p, 24p), 1440 x 1080, 640 x 480
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 193g (0.43 lbs) 610g (1.34 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 58 x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") 143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 701
Other
Battery life 200 shots 510 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (Yes (2 or 12 sec))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $670 $581