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Panasonic G3 vs Sony a1

Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
 
Sony Alpha a1 front
Portability
61
Imaging
81
Features
93
Overall
85

Panasonic G3 vs Sony a1 Key Specs

Panasonic G3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 336g - 115 x 84 x 47mm
  • Released July 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic G2
  • New Model is Panasonic G5
Sony a1
(Full Review)
  • 50MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Bump to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 7680 x 4320 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 737g - 129 x 97 x 70mm
  • Released January 2021
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Panasonic G3 vs Sony a1 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Panasonic G3 vs Sony a1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the G3 (16MP) and a1 (50MP) and the G3 (Four Thirds) and a1 (Full frame) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The G3 was announced 10 years before the a1 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a short view of how the G3 matches up against the a1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Sony a1

 G3 a1 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony a1 over the Panasonic G3

 a1 G3 
ReleasedJanuary 2021July 2011More modern by 116 months
Display resolution1440k460kSharper display (+980k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic G3 and Sony a1

 G3 a1 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Panasonic G3 vs Sony a1 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera, you need to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic G3 provides external measurements of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") having a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Sony a1 has specifications of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

See the Panasonic G3 vs Sony a1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the G3 versus the a1.

Panasonic G3 vs Sony a1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the G3 and a1 is 83 and 61 respectively.

Panasonic G3 vs Sony a1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Sony a1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizes merely by looking through specs. The pic below may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the G3 and a1.

All in all, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The G3 having a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony a1 will result in greater detail with its extra 34MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos more aggressively. The more aged G3 will be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic G3 vs Sony a1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Sony a1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G3 vs Sony a1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G3 Portrait photography features
Sony a1 Portrait photography features
70
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
88
manual focus
high flash sync (1/400 seconds)
amazing sensor resolution (50MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G3 as a Street photography camera
Sony a1 as a Street photography camera
75
fully articulated screen
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
has focus by touch
does not have image stabilization
79
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
has touch to focus
environment sealing
above average high ISO (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G3 Sports photography features
Sony a1 Sports photography features
46
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps low (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery life (270 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
90
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
max fps high (30.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing sensor resolution (50 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
good battery (530 CIPA)
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G3 Travel photography highlights
Sony a1 Travel photography highlights
70
has focus by touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
missing Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (270 CIPA)
73
good battery (530 shots)
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
has touch to focus
amazing sensor resolution (50 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G3 Landscape photography factors
Sony a1 Landscape photography factors
62
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery life (270 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
88
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing sensor resolution (50MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
above average high ISO (32,000)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
good battery (530 CIPA)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G3 Vlogging advice
Sony a1 Vlogging advice
70
selfie friendly screen
touch screen
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have image stabilization
missing external mic socket
36
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (7680 x 4320 pixels)
has external microphone socket
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic G3 vs Sony a1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G3 and Sony a1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3Sony Alpha a1
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Sony Alpha a1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Released 2011-07-11 2021-01-26
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 50 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3448 8640 x 5760
Maximum native ISO 6400 32000
Maximum boosted ISO - 102400
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 23 759
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 133
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots 9,437k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.9x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per second 30.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 11.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/400 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)) 7680x4320 (30p, 25p, 23.98)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 7680x4320
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG XAVC S, XAVC HS, H.264, H.265
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 336 gr (0.74 lb) 737 gr (1.62 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") 129 x 97 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 667 not tested
Other
Battery life 270 shots 530 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots (UHS-II supported)
Card slots Single Dual
Launch price $500 $6,498