Panasonic G10 vs Sony a1

Below, we are matching up the Panasonic G10 and Sony a1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the G10 (12MP) and a1 (50MP) and the G10 (Four Thirds) and a1 (Full frame) use totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The G10 was revealed 11 years prior to the a1 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the G10 scores versus the a1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 & Sony Alpha a1. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic G10 Gallery & Sony a1 Gallery.

If you're intending to carry your camera, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic G10 provides exterior measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 74mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 2.9") along with a weight of 388 grams (0.86 lbs) whilst the Sony a1 has sizing of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

See the Panasonic G10 and Sony a1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that moment. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the G10 and the a1.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the G10 and a1 is 72 and 61 respectively.

Usually, its difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing merely by seeing technical specs. The photograph here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the G10 and a1.

As you have seen, the two cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The G10 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Sony a1 will show more detail because of its extra 38 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older G10 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.