Panasonic GF1 vs Sony A100

Below is a comprehensive assessment of the Panasonic GF1 and Sony A100, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the GF1 (12MP) and the A100 (10MP) is pretty similar but the GF1 (Four Thirds) and A100 (APS-C) offer different sensor size.

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The GF1 was revealed 3 years later than the A100 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the GF1 grades versus the A100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A100. The full galleries are available at Panasonic GF1 Gallery & Sony A100 Gallery.

If you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic GF1 offers external dimensions of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) while the Sony A100 has sizing of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") along with a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GF1 and Sony A100 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the GF1 against the A100.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the GF1 and A100 is 85 and 64 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's hard to picture the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading specs. The visual here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the GF1 and A100.

All in all, both of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GF1 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Panasonic GF1 will deliver extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more modern GF1 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.