Panasonic G3 vs Sony A380

Here, we are looking at the Panasonic G3 versus Sony A380, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the G3 (16MP) and the A380 (14MP) is very similar but the G3 (Four Thirds) and A380 (APS-C) offer different sensor measurements.

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The G3 was launched 23 months after the A380 making them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the G3 matches up vs the A380 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A380. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic G3 Gallery and Sony A380 Gallery.

If you are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic G3 has got outside dimensions of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Sony A380 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic G3 versus Sony A380 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the G3 against the A380.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G3 and A380 is 83 and 68 respectively.

Quite often, it is very difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes only by reviewing technical specs. The picture below may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the G3 and A380.

As you can tell, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The G3 because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Panasonic G3 will deliver extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The fresher G3 provides a benefit in sensor technology.