Unveiling the Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-5N: A Detailed Hands-On Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

When I first got my hands on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 and the Sony Alpha NEX-5N back in 2011-2012, both instantly caught my attention as intriguing entrants in the then-burgeoning mirrorless segment. Now, having extensively tested both alongside hundreds of other cameras over the years, I want to take you on a thorough journey through their capabilities - revealing their strengths, limitations, and nuances that truly matter in real-world photography.

This comparison is for you if you’re a photography enthusiast or professional looking for a capable, budget-friendly mirrorless camera that can serve diverse shooting styles - from portraits and landscapes to wildlife, street, and even video. I'll place each model under the microscope, sharing personal insights, industry-standard measurements, and practical advice to help you make an informed decision.

Let’s dive in, starting with the core physical and ergonomic differences.

Size and Handling: Comfort Meets Usability

Both cameras embrace mirrorless design philosophies but differ somewhat in form factor and handling approaches.

Right away, you’ll notice the Panasonic G3 sports a more traditional SLR-style body shape, offering a sense of balance and grip security that’s great for longer shoots or users accustomed to DSLR ergonomics. It measures 115x84x47 mm and weighs about 336 grams, providing a nice heft without feeling cumbersome. The electronic viewfinder (EVF) is integrated directly into the body (0.7x magnification, 100% coverage), enabling stable shooting in bright conditions.

By contrast, the Sony NEX-5N opts for a rangefinder-style profile, compact and sleek at 111x59x38 mm, weighing a lighter 269 grams. This makes it extremely pocketable and ideal for carrying on street or travel outings. However, it lacks a built-in EVF; you either shoot via its bright, tilting 3-inch LCD or attach an optional external EVF. The screen tilts up 80° and down 45°, which is practical for creative angles but isn’t fully articulating.

I found that the G3’s comfortable grip gives it an edge in extended handheld use, while the NEX-5N’s smaller footprint appeals when you want to pack light or remain unobtrusive. Both have touch-sensitive screens that facilitate focus-point selection and quick menu navigation - one less hassle than many contemporaries.

Moving to top controls:

The G3 offers a more conventional dial arrangement with dedicated exposure compensation and mode dials, which I appreciate for rapid manual adjustments in the field. The NEX-5N’s controls are minimalist, leaning on menus and fewer physical buttons, which can slow your workflow during fast-paced shoots but suits casual snapshots well.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of The Matter

When it comes to image quality, sensor technology and size are paramount.

The Panasonic G3 features a Four Thirds sensor (17.3x13 mm) with 16 megapixels resolution, paired with the Venus Engine FHD processor. The smaller sensor size yields a 2.1x crop factor, meaning lenses appear more telephoto compared to full-frame. In practice, this sensor offers respectable dynamic range (~10.6 EV per DxOMark) and color depth (~21 bits), though its low-light ISO performance is more limited (native up to ISO 6400, optimal performance around 667 ISO equivalent).

In contrast, the Sony NEX-5N houses a larger APS-C sensor (23.4x15.6 mm), also at 16 megapixels, processed by Sony’s Bionz engine. The bigger sensor area (365.04 mm²) directly contributes to better light gathering, yielding superior dynamic range (~12.7 EV), higher color depth (~23.6 bits), and substantially improved high ISO performance (ISO 25600 max, best around 1079 ISO equivalent). This translates into cleaner images with less noise, especially crucial in low-light or night photography.

From a practical standpoint, I often noticed the NEX-5N delivering punchier, better-defined images with smoother tonal gradations, especially in challenging lighting compared to the G3. The Panasonic’s sensor still shines in daylight and well-lit scenarios, with nice color rendition out-of-camera, particularly warm skin tones appreciated in portraiture.

LCD and Viewfinder Experience: Framing and Interaction

For composing your shots, both models provide distinct user experiences.

The Panasonic G3’s standout is a fully articulated 3-inch touchscreen LCD with a resolution of 460k dots. This allows you to flip the screen around for self-portraits, creative shooting angles, or video work - a versatility I often leveraged in macro or low vantage point situations. The touch interface simplifies menu browsing and focus point selection.

The Sony NEX-5N offers a fixed (tilting) 3-inch LCD with a much higher resolution of 920k dots, resulting in sharper preview images. The tilt mechanism is handy for shooting at waist or overhead height, even if it lacks full articulation.

The G3’s built-in EVF remains a significant advantage for viewing in bright conditions, where LCDs struggle with glare. The NEX-5N’s lack of an integrated EVF is a tradeoff for its slim profile. Many users may not mind relying on the screen, but if you prioritize an eye-level viewfinder, adding the optional accessory increases cost and setup complexity.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy & Face Detection

Fast and reliable autofocus (AF) is essential across most photography disciplines.

Both cameras employ contrast-detection autofocus systems with 23 (Panasonic) and 25 (Sony) focus points. Neither feature on-chip phase detection or hybrid AF technology, typical of newer models.

The Panasonic G3’s AF system supports face detection, live view continuous AF, and tracking, which I found moderately effective in static or moderately dynamic scenes. Its entry-level heritage shows in AF speed - generally good in good light but slower under low illumination or when tracking fast-moving subjects.

Sony’s NEX-5N delivers overall snappier autofocus performance in daylight, partly aided by more advanced processor optimizations. Face detection works solidly, although continuous tracking AF is missing, somewhat limiting sports photography capabilities.

Neither camera supports animal eye AF, a feature now commonplace but unavailable at their release date.

From my tests, for wildlife or sports enthusiasts prioritizing autofocus precision and burst shooting, the Sony’s 10 fps continuous shooting mode (vs 4 fps for Panasonic) paired with faster AF gives it a considerable advantage.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Both cameras are positioned as entry-level mirrorless models and thus do not feature weather sealing or robust environmental protection.

Handling-wise, the Panasonic G3 has a sturdy polycarbonate chassis with a somewhat rubberized grip that feels solid in hand. The Sony NEX-5N, while more compact and stylish, exhibits a slimmer, less rugged build. Neither is dustproof or shockproof, so I’d advise caution when shooting under harsh weather or dusty outdoor conditions.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

One of the strengths of the Panasonic G3 is its Micro Four Thirds mount, an ecosystem that has grown exponentially over the past decade.

With over 100 native lenses ranging from wide-angle primes to super-telephoto zooms, including third-party options from Olympus, Sigma, and Tamron, the MFT system offers versatility for macro, portrait, and landscape work at various price points.

Sony’s E-mount on the NEX-5N was comparatively newer, with around 120 lenses available, including Sony’s own, Zeiss primes, and options from Sigma and Tamron. The APS-C format inside the NEX series provides a nice balance between compact lens sizes and good image quality, with many lenses optimized for higher resolution and sharpness.

In real use, I found both systems robust, but the MFT lenses often smaller and lighter, complementing the G3’s DSLR-style grip and handling, while E-mount lenses, although sometimes bulkier, offered exceptional optical quality.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery endurance is critical for long days in the field.

The Panasonic G3’s rated 270 shots per charge was typical for its era and sensor size. I found this moderately sufficient for casual outings, but extended shooting sessions required spare batteries.

The Sony NEX-5N shone with significantly superior battery life, rated at around 460 shots per charge, thanks to efficient sensor and processing design. For travel and street photographers, this improvement can provide meaningful convenience.

Both use proprietary lithium-ion battery packs, with one SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot on the G3, while the NEX-5N also supports Sony Memory Stick Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo cards, expanding storage flexibility.

Connectivity and Video Capabilities

Video technology in both cameras is surprisingly strong for their release period.

Panasonic G3 offers Full HD 1080p recording at 60fps, plus 720p and standard-definition options, encoded in AVCHD and Motion JPEG formats. It lacks microphone and headphone ports, limiting professional audio capture, but the fully articulated screen assists when shooting video content.

Sony NEX-5N also delivers 1080p video at 60fps in AVCHD format, with additional 1440x1080 (30fps) and VGA resolutions. It too lacks audio input/output ports but benefits from a higher resolution, more vibrant rear display.

Both omit 4K and higher frame rate options, limiting utility for demanding video shooters.

Sony adds Eye-Fi card compatibility enabling wireless photo transfer - a nod towards emerging connectivity trends, while Panasonic G3 offers basic USB 2.0 and HDMI ports.

Shooting Experiences Across Different Genres

Let me share how both cameras perform across distinct photography styles.

Portrait Photography

Portraits demand accurate skin tone rendering, pleasing bokeh, and reliable eye detection AF.

The Panasonic G3’s Four Thirds sensor and abundance of MFT lenses offer excellent background separation - though its smaller sensor limits ultimate depth-of-field control compared to APS-C. The Venus engine provides warm, natural skin tones. Face detection autofocus works well but lacks the speed and precision of modern systems.

The Sony NEX-5N’s APS-C sensor excels here, delivering smoother tonal gradations and creamier bokeh effects from faster prime lenses. Face detection is accurate, though limited by contrast-detection AF speed.

For posed studio portraits or casual environmental portraits, I gravitate toward the NEX-5N for superior image quality, but the G3 is very capable with the right lens.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters prioritize resolution, dynamic range, and (ideally) weather sealing.

Both cameras offer about 16MP resolution, but the Sony’s bigger sensor yields higher dynamic range (~12.7 EV vs ~10.6 EV for Panasonic), enhancing detail retention in shadows and highlights - particularly valuable for sunrise/sunset scenes.

Neither features weather sealing, so protection is key in tough outdoor conditions.

The G3’s articulating screen enables easy composition from awkward angles, while the NEX-5N’s sharper screen aids clarity.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Here autofocus speed, burst rate, and reach become critical.

The Sony NEX-5N’s 10 fps burst and responsive AF deliver better tracking of moving subjects, despite lacking advanced phase detection or eye AF features.

Panasonic’s G3, capped at 4 fps and slower AF, lags behind, making it less suitable for fast-action capture.

Telephoto lens options abound on both mounts. MFT’s 2.1x crop factor benefits reach on the G3, effectively increasing focal length without additional bulk. Meanwhile, the APS-C sensor on NEX-5N balances edge-to-edge sharpness with manageable size lenses.

Street and Travel Photography

Portability and discretion are paramount here.

Sony’s compact, lightweight body keeps you unobtrusive - perfect for candid street shots or travel. Its brighter, tilting screen aids in finding unusual angles.

G3’s DSLR-style grip improves stable shooting but adds size; this is a tradeoff depending on your style.

Battery life favors the Sony during full-day excursions, while the availability of affordable MFT pancake lenses sweetens the G3’s portability.

Macro and Night/Astrophotography

Neither camera has dedicated macro focus bracketing or image stabilization, so achieving tack-sharp macro images relies on prime lenses and careful focus.

Regarding night and astrophotography:

The NEX-5N’s higher native ISO and dynamic range grant clearer, cleaner images in low light. Panasonic’s lower ISO ceiling limits versatility here.

Manual controls on both cameras support long exposure, bulb mode, and self-timers that facilitate night shooting.

Video Use

Both deliver solid Full HD video with flexible FPS options but lack advanced audio connectivity or 4K.

The Panasonic’s fully articulating touchscreen and AVCHD/Motion JPEG formats provide slightly more versatility.

Real-World Sample Images

To give you a taste, here’s a gallery displaying photos taken with both cameras under varied conditions - portraits, landscapes, street scenes, and more.

Panasonic G3 front Panasonic G3 screen back Sony NEX 5N front Sony NEX 5N screen back

You’ll observe Sony NEX-5N images exhibit purer color fidelity and finer detail retention in shadows, especially low light shots. Panasonic G3’s files appear warmer and punchier in daylight but show more noise at higher ISO.

Performance Scores and Value Proposition

Industry benchmarks provide a numerical summary alongside my hands-on analysis.

Sony NEX-5N scores higher across the board, notably in image quality, low-light performance, and burst shooting speed.

Panasonic G3 scores reasonably but trails in key areas such as sensor dynamic range and autofocus speed.

Breaking scores by photography type gives deeper insight:

NEX-5N leads wildlife, sports, night, and landscape categories. The G3 is competitive in portrait and travel scenarios, thanks to its handling and lens selection.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Having tested these cameras hundreds of times in the field, here’s where I’d place each one:

• Choose the Panasonic Lumix G3 if:

  • You prefer DSLR-style ergonomics with an integrated EVF.
  • You value a fully articulating touchscreen.
  • Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem size and compactness matter.
  • You primarily shoot portraits, travel, and casual landscapes.
  • You're comfortable with modest autofocus and low-light limits.
  • Budget is a consideration; the G3 can be found at attractive prices.

• Choose the Sony Alpha NEX-5N if:

  • Image quality, especially in low light, is a priority.
  • You want high-speed continuous shooting and snappier autofocus.
  • Compactness and weight are critical for street, travel, or wildlife.
  • You aim to exploit the APS-C sensor’s advantages for portraits and landscapes.
  • Longer battery life is important.
  • You don’t mind using or adding an external EVF.

Both cameras are now legacy models but remain compelling entry points for mirrorless photography enthusiasts seeking affordable, versatile tools. If you can, I recommend handling both in person to feel the ergonomics firsthand, especially if you plan extended use.

Ultimately, these cameras reflect the exciting days when mirrorless tech was blooming - and many of their design decisions continue to inform current models.

I hope this in-depth comparison helps illuminate how the Panasonic G3 and Sony NEX-5N stand up to each other in real-world photography. If you have specific shooting styles or requirements, feel free to ask - I’m happy to share more granular advice based on years of testing and shooting experience. Happy photographing!

Appendices: Summary of Technical Specs

Thank you for reading this extensive review and comparison. My commitment is always to provide honest, knowledgeable, and practical information, grounded in years of professional experience behind the lens. If you found this article helpful, feel free to engage or reach out for personalized camera recommendations.