Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-7
90 Imaging
48 Features
48 Overall
48
![Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF3/Panasonic-GF3-front.jpg)
![Sony Alpha NEX-7 front Sony Alpha NEX-7 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Sony-Alpha-NEX-7/Sony-NEX-7-front.jpg)
84 Imaging
64 Features
71 Overall
66
Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-7 Key Specs
(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
- Released August 2011
- Earlier Model is Panasonic GF2
- Refreshed by Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
- 24MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 16000
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
- Launched December 2011
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Approach-to-AI-Generated-Content-218x150.jpg)
Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-7 Overview
In this article, we will be analyzing the Panasonic GF3 versus Sony NEX-7, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and NEX-7 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor size.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tiktok-218x150.jpg)
The GF3 was launched 4 months earlier than the NEX-7 so they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a brief summary of how the GF3 scores against the NEX-7 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/No-Surprise-Pentax-17-Pre-Orders-218x150.jpg)
Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-7 Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 & Sony Alpha NEX-7. The complete galleries are provided at Panasonic GF3 Gallery & Sony NEX-7 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Sony NEX-7
GF3 | NEX-7 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Touch screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Panasonic GF3
NEX-7 | GF3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Screen resolution | 921k | ![]() | 460k | Sharper screen (+461k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Sony NEX-7
GF3 | NEX-7 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | August 2011 | ![]() | December 2011 | Same age |
Manually focus | ![]() | More precise focusing | ||
Screen sizing | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equivalent screen size |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither features selfie screen |
Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-7 Physical Comparison
In case you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF3 enjoys outer measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Sony NEX-7 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).
Analyze the Panasonic GF3 versus Sony NEX-7 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.![Camera Size Comparison with Lenses Camera Size Comparison with Lenses](https://pxlmag.com/db/assets/camera-size-comparison-animation.gif)
Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view size comparison of the GF3 against the NEX-7.
![Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-7 size comparison Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-7 size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF3-vs-Sony-Alpha-NEX-7-size-comparison.jpg)
Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the GF3 and NEX-7 is 90 and 84 respectively.
![Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-7 top view buttons comparison Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-7 top view buttons comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF3-vs-Sony-Alpha-NEX-7-top-view-buttons-comparison.jpg)
Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-7 Sensor Comparison
Generally, its hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements merely by going through specifications. The graphic below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the GF3 and NEX-7.
To sum up, both of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GF3 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh tougher and the Sony NEX-7 will produce extra detail utilizing its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs a little more aggressively.
![Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-7 sensor size comparison Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-7 sensor size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/sensor-compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF3-vs-Sony-Alpha-NEX-7-sensor-size-comparison.png)
Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and ViewFinder
![Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF3-vs-Sony-Alpha-NEX-7-screen-back-comparison.jpg)
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LP3_cut_13f_0212-218x150.jpg)
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/samsung-evo-microsd-cards-featur-218x150.jpg)
Street Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/maxresdefault-218x150.jpg)
Sports Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/photography-glossary-218x150.jpg)
Travel Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/snapchat-218x150.jpg)
Landscape Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ai-licence-218x150.jpg)
Vlogging Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/iphone-optical-stabilization-218x150.jpg)
Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-7 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 | Sony Alpha NEX-7 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Panasonic | Sony |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 | Sony Alpha NEX-7 |
Type | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Advanced Mirrorless |
Released | 2011-08-11 | 2011-12-13 |
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 measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixels | 24 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 6000 x 4000 |
Highest native ISO | 6400 | 16000 |
Min native ISO | 160 | 100 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detection focus | ||
Contract detection focus | ||
Phase detection focus | ||
Total focus points | 23 | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount 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 | 921 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Screen tech | TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | Electronic |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.73x |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 60 seconds | 30 seconds |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/4000 seconds |
Continuous shooting speed | 3.0fps | 10.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 6.30 m | 6.00 m |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Maximum flash sync | 1/160 seconds | 1/160 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | AVCHD, Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
Microphone 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 proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 264 gr (0.58 lb) | 400 gr (0.88 lb) |
Dimensions | 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") | 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | 50 | 81 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 20.6 | 24.1 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 10.1 | 13.4 |
DXO Low light rating | 459 | 1016 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 300 shots | 430 shots |
Battery form | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | NPFW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 images)) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Price at launch | $360 | $699 |