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Panasonic GF3 vs Sony A3000

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Sony Alpha A3000 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony A3000 Key Specs

Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF2
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GF5
Sony A3000
(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
  • Released August 2013
  • Refreshed by Sony a3500
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Panasonic GF3 vs Sony A3000 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Panasonic GF3 versus Sony A3000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and A3000 (20MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and A3000 (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The GF3 was announced 24 months earlier than the A3000 making them a generation away from one another. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A3000 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summation of how the GF3 scores vs the A3000 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Sony A3000

 GF3 A3000 
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A3000 over the Panasonic GF3

 A3000 GF3 
ReleasedAugust 2013August 2011Newer by 24 months

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Sony A3000

 GF3 A3000 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony A3000 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF3 offers outer measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Sony A3000 has measurements of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GF3 versus Sony A3000 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the GF3 compared to the A3000.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony A3000 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF3 and A3000 is 90 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony A3000 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony A3000 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions merely by looking at a spec sheet. The pic underneath will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the GF3 and A3000.

As you can see, the 2 cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The GF3 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Sony A3000 will give you greater detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged GF3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony A3000 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony A3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony A3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography details
Sony A3000 Portrait photography details
55
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
77
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Street photography details
Sony A3000 Street photography details
70
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
has touch to focus
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
57
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than average (411 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GF3
Sports photography with Sony A3000
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
60
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (470 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Travel photography highlights
Sony A3000 Travel photography highlights
58
has touch to focus
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
60
better than average battery power (470 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than average (411 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF3
Landscape photography with Sony A3000
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
70
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3")
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (470 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Vlogging highlights
Sony A3000 Vlogging highlights
32
built-in touchscreen
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have microphone support
26
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external mic port
heavier than average (411 grams)
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Panasonic GF3 vs Sony A3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Sony A3000
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Sony Alpha A3000
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Sony Alpha A3000
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-08-11 2013-08-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine 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 surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.30 m 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD, H.264, MP4
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 264 grams (0.58 lb) 411 grams (0.91 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 50 78
DXO Color Depth score 20.6 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 12.8
DXO Low light score 459 1068
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 470 photographs
Battery form 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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $360 $398