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Panasonic G5 vs Sony a3500

Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
66
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Panasonic G5 vs Sony a3500 Key Specs

Panasonic G5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 83 x 71mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Previous Model is Panasonic G3
  • Later Model is Panasonic G6
Sony a3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Revealed March 2014
  • Old Model is Sony A3000
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Panasonic G5 vs Sony a3500 Overview

Lets look closer at the Panasonic G5 vs Sony a3500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the G5 (16MP) and the a3500 (20MP) is fairly well matched but the G5 (Four Thirds) and a3500 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The G5 was launched 20 months prior to the a3500 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before we go in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the G5 scores vs the a3500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G5 over the Sony a3500

 G5 a3500 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Panasonic G5

 a3500 G5 
RevealedMarch 2014July 2012More modern by 20 months

Common features in the Panasonic G5 and Sony a3500

 G5 a3500 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing

Panasonic G5 vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic G5 has got physical dimensions of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") having a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) and the Sony a3500 has measurements of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic G5 vs Sony a3500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the G5 and the a3500.

Panasonic G5 vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the G5 and a3500 is 74 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic G5 vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to envision the difference between sensor sizes merely by looking at specifications. The picture below may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the G5 and a3500.

To sum up, both the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The G5 because of its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony a3500 will give you more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged G5 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic G5 vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G5 vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic G5
Portrait photography with Sony a3500
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
77
manual focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G5 Street photography highlights
Sony a3500 Street photography highlights
66
screen articulates
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch focus
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competitors in class (396g)
57
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition (411g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G5 Sports photography highlights
Sony a3500 Sports photography highlights
51
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
slow fps (6.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
60
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
better than average battery life (470 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic G5
Travel photography with Sony a3500
66
comes with touch focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors in class (396 grams)
60
better than average battery life (470 CIPA)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (411 grams)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G5 Landscape photography advice
Sony a3500 Landscape photography advice
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
does not have Timelapse function
70
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (470 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony a3500 as a Vlogging camera
62
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
features face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have image stabilization
does not have microphone jack
more heavy than competitors in class (396 grams)
26
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
no mic port
heavier than competition (411 grams)
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Panasonic G5 vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G5 and Sony a3500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5Sony Alpha a3500
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 Sony Alpha a3500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2012-07-17 2014-03-21
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine VII FHD BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 12800 16000
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.47x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.50 m 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps 1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 396 grams (0.87 lbs) 411 grams (0.91 lbs)
Dimensions 120 x 83 x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 61 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 618 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 images 470 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $699 $398