Clicky

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony NEX-F3

Portability
85
Imaging
47
Features
47
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-F3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
57
Features
60
Overall
58

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony NEX-F3 Key Specs

Panasonic GF1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 119 x 71 x 36mm
  • Launched October 2009
  • New Model is Panasonic GF2
Sony NEX-F3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-C3
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-3N
Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony NEX-F3 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Panasonic GF1 vs Sony NEX-F3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the GF1 (12MP) and NEX-F3 (16MP) and the GF1 (Four Thirds) and NEX-F3 (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

The GF1 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the NEX-F3 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the GF1 matches up against the NEX-F3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF1 over the Sony NEX-F3

 GF1 NEX-F3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Panasonic GF1

 NEX-F3 GF1 
RevealedAugust 2012October 2009More recent by 34 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF1 and Sony NEX-F3

 GF1 NEX-F3 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony NEX-F3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic GF1 has exterior dimensions of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) while the Sony NEX-F3 has specifications of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GF1 vs Sony NEX-F3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the GF1 and the NEX-F3.

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony NEX-F3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the GF1 and NEX-F3 is 85 and 86 respectively.

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony NEX-F3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony NEX-F3 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements only by reading specifications. The photograph below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the GF1 and NEX-F3.

Plainly, both the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GF1 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony NEX-F3 will offer extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The older GF1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony NEX-F3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF1
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-F3
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
74
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
AI-Powered Photo Editing Tools Could Be Added to WhatsApp

Street Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Street photography info
Sony NEX-F3 Street photography info
64
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
76
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-F3 Sports photography info
44
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery life (380 per charge)
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
has no phase detect AF
53
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery pack (470 shots)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%

Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-F3 Travel photography info
59
great battery life (380 CIPA)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
resolution not great (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
69
great battery pack (470 CIPA)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
Google AI Gemini Could Enhance iPhone Experience, Talks Suggest

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Landscape photography advice
Sony NEX-F3 Landscape photography advice
60
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (380 per charge)
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse recording
70
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (470 shots)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse function
Ulanzi's Tripod Ensures Ultra Smooth Filming

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Vlogging details
Sony NEX-F3 Vlogging details
25
includes face detection focusing
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone jack
27
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
lack of external mic jack
TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony NEX-F3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF1 and Sony NEX-F3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Sony Alpha NEX-F3
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Sony Alpha NEX-F3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2009-10-14 2012-08-16
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 16000
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 385 gr (0.85 lbs) 314 gr (0.69 lbs)
Dimensions 119 x 71 x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 73
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 12.3
DXO Low light score 513 1114
Other
Battery life 380 shots 470 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/MMC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch price $400 $470