Panasonic G3 vs Sony a3500

Let's take a deeper look at the Panasonic G3 vs Sony a3500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the G3 (16MP) and the a3500 (20MP) is fairly well matched but the G3 (Four Thirds) and a3500 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The G3 was revealed 3 years prior to the a3500 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short highlight of how the G3 matches up against the a3500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 and Sony Alpha a3500. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic G3 Gallery and Sony a3500 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and size. The Panasonic G3 has physical dimensions of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Sony a3500 has specifications of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic G3 vs Sony a3500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the G3 compared to the a3500.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the G3 and a3500 is 83 and 69 respectively.

Quite often, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes only by looking at specifications. The image underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the G3 and a3500.

To sum up, both cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The G3 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony a3500 will resolve more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged G3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.