Panasonic GF3 vs Sony A200

Let's examine more in depth at the Panasonic GF3 versus Sony A200, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the GF3 (12MP) and the A200 (10MP) is fairly close but the GF3 (Four Thirds) and A200 (APS-C) possess different sensor dimensions.

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The GF3 was released 3 years later than the A200 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A200 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the GF3 matches up against the A200 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A200. The complete galleries are provided at Panasonic GF3 Gallery & Sony A200 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic GF3 has physical dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Sony A200 has specifications of 131mm x 99mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 2.8") having a weight of 572 grams (1.26 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GF3 versus Sony A200 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the GF3 compared to the A200.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF3 and A200 is 90 and 66 respectively.

More often than not, its difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizing only by researching specifications. The graphic below may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF3 and A200.

To sum up, the two cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GF3 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic GF3 will provide you with more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The newer GF3 provides an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.