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Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5000

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Sony Alpha a5000 front
Portability
89
Imaging
63
Features
62
Overall
62

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5000 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
  • Released August 2011
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GF2
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GF5
Sony a5000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Revealed January 2014
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-3N
  • Successor is Sony a5100
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Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5000 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic GF3 and Sony a5000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and a5000 (20MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and a5000 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizes.

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The GF3 was unveiled 3 years prior to the a5000 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise summation of how the GF3 scores vs the a5000 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Sony a5000

 GF3 a5000 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony a5000 over the Panasonic GF3

 a5000 GF3 
RevealedJanuary 2014August 2011Newer by 29 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution461k460kClearer display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Sony a5000

 GF3 a5000 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5000 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF3 features external 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 a5000 has measurements of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GF3 and Sony a5000 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the GF3 vs the a5000.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5000 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GF3 and a5000 is 90 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5000 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5000 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reading through a spec sheet. The image below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the GF3 and a5000.

As you can see, both the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The GF3 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony a5000 will give you more detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged GF3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5000 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5000 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography factors
Sony a5000 Portrait photography factors
55
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
71
focusing manually
decent megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Street photography advice
Sony a5000 Street photography advice
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
includes touch focus
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
78
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Sports photography advice
Sony a5000 Sports photography advice
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery (300 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
60
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery life (420 per charge)
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony a5000 as a Travel photography camera
58
includes touch focus
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse function
low battery (300 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
78
better than average battery life (420 per charge)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography information
Sony a5000 Landscape photography information
55
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery (300 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
77
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (420 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Vlogging details
Sony a5000 Vlogging details
32
built-in touchscreen
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
lack of external microphone support
32
supports face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of microphone support
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Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Sony a5000
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Sony Alpha a5000
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Sony Alpha a5000
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-08-11 2014-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.6
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD with 180 upward tilt
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.30 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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 (60i/24p), 1440 x 1080 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 264g (0.58 pounds) 269g (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 50 79
DXO Color Depth score 20.6 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 13.0
DXO Low light score 459 1089
Other
Battery life 300 images 420 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $360 $448