Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-5

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the G3 (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is pretty close but the G3 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5 (APS-C) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The G3 was unveiled 14 months later than the NEX-5 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a full comparison, below is a short summary of how the G3 matches up vs the NEX-5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic G3 Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic G3 offers outside measurements of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the G3 against the NEX-5.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the G3 and NEX-5 is 83 and 89 respectively.

In many cases, its tough to picture the gap in sensor sizing purely by researching specifications. The photograph below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the G3 and NEX-5.

To sum up, both of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The G3 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Panasonic G3 will result in extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The newer G3 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.