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Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
69
Overall
61

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-5N 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
  • Old Model is Panasonic GF2
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF5
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-5R
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Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Following is a in-depth assessment of the Panasonic GF3 versus Sony NEX-5N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5N (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The GF3 was revealed about the same time to the NEX-5N and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summary of how the GF3 scores against the NEX-5N in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Sony NEX-5N

 GF3 NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Panasonic GF3

 NEX-5N GF3 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Sony NEX-5N

 GF3 NEX-5N 
RevealedAugust 2011October 2011Same generation
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic GF3 has outside dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GF3 versus Sony NEX-5N in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the GF3 vs the NEX-5N.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the GF3 and NEX-5N is 90 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizes merely by checking out specifications. The pic underneath will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the GF3 and NEX-5N.

To sum up, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The GF3 having a smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony NEX-5N will produce greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images more aggressively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography features
55
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW files
no external flash support
resolution not great (12MP)
74
has manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Street photography advice
Sony NEX-5N Street photography advice
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
has focus via touch
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
80
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
has focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Sports photography camera
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
bad battery power (300 shots)
has no phase detect AF
58
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great battery pack (460 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Travel photography camera
58
has focus via touch
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
bad battery power (300 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
71
great battery pack (460 CIPA)
has focus via touch
decent MP (16MP)
missing Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (300 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
71
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (460 shots)
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Vlogging camera
32
touchscreen capability
has face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have external mic port
33
has touchscreen
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing external mic port
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Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Sony NEX-5N
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-08-11 2011-10-03
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD 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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
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 6400 25600
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW photos
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
Number of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.30 m 12.00 m
Flash settings 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 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 264g (0.58 lb) 269g (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 50 77
DXO Color Depth score 20.6 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 12.7
DXO Low light score 459 1079
Other
Battery life 300 images 460 images
Style 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, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $360 $550