Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-3

Let's look more in depth at the Panasonic G3 and Sony NEX-3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the G3 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is fairly close but the G3 (Four Thirds) and NEX-3 (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The G3 was introduced 14 months later than the NEX-3 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a short view of how the G3 matches up versus the NEX-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 & Sony Alpha NEX-3. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic G3 Gallery & Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

If you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic G3 features exterior dimensions of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") and a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has proportions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

See the Panasonic G3 and Sony NEX-3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose during that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the G3 vs the NEX-3.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the G3 and NEX-3 is 83 and 89 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements only by looking through specifications. The graphic here should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the G3 and NEX-3.

To sum up, both cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The G3 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Panasonic G3 will provide you with more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more recent G3 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.