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Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-5T

Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5T front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
79
Overall
65

Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-5T Key Specs

Panasonic G3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 336g - 115 x 84 x 47mm
  • Launched July 2011
  • Old Model is Panasonic G2
  • Refreshed by Panasonic G5
Sony NEX-5T
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Launched August 2013
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-5R
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Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-5T Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-5T, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the G3 (16MP) and the NEX-5T (16MP) is relatively comparable but the G3 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5T (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The G3 was launched 3 years prior to the NEX-5T which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5T being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the G3 scores versus the NEX-5T for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Sony NEX-5T

 G3 NEX-5T 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5T over the Panasonic G3

 NEX-5T G3 
LaunchedAugust 2013July 2011More modern by 25 months
Screen resolution922k460kSharper screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic G3 and Sony NEX-5T

 G3 NEX-5T 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-5T Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic G3 comes with outside dimensions of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") with a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5T has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Check the Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-5T in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at the time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the G3 versus the NEX-5T.

Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-5T size comparison

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

Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-5T top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-5T Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizes only by checking out a spec sheet. The pic here will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the G3 and NEX-5T.

As you can see, both of those cameras posses the exact same resolution albeit not the same sensor sizes. The G3 comes with the smaller sensor which will make getting shallower depth of field more challenging. The more aged G3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-5T sensor size comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-5T Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-5T Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G3 Portrait photography advice
Sony NEX-5T Portrait photography advice
70
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
74
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G3 Street photography details
Sony NEX-5T Street photography details
75
fully articulated screen
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes focus via touch
does not have image stabilization
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
includes touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G3 Sports photography details
Sony NEX-5T Sports photography details
46
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps low (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (270 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
68
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
has phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic G3
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5T
70
includes focus via touch
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (270 CIPA)
77
includes touch focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G3 Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-5T Landscape photography features
62
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (270 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
70
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5T as a Vlogging camera
70
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external mic jack
73
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
supports face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have image stabilization
missing external microphone port
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Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-5T Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G3 and Sony NEX-5T
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3Sony Alpha NEX-5T
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Sony Alpha NEX-5T
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-07-11 2013-08-27
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3448 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 99
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle Tilt Up 180° Down 50° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 11.00 m 7.00 m (ISO100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)) 1920 x1080 (60p/60i/24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 336g (0.74 pounds) 276g (0.61 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 78
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.6 13.0
DXO Low light score 667 1015
Other
Battery life 270 photos 330 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ((10/2 sec. delay), Self-timer (Cont.) (with 10 sec. delay; 3/5 exposures))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $500 $400