Panasonic GF3 vs Sony A290

On this page, we will be looking at the Panasonic GF3 vs Sony A290, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the GF3 (12MP) and the A290 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the GF3 (Four Thirds) and A290 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

The GF3 was brought out 15 months later than the A290 which makes them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the GF3 scores vs the A290 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic GF3 Gallery and Sony A290 Gallery.

If you are going to lug around your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF3 enjoys exterior measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Sony A290 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

See the Panasonic GF3 vs Sony A290 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the GF3 compared to the A290.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the GF3 and A290 is 90 and 66 respectively.

Generally, it's tough to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading through specifications. The visual here might give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the GF3 and A290.

Plainly, both cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GF3 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony A290 will give extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs more aggressively. The newer GF3 should have an advantage in sensor tech.