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Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5100

Portability
90
Imaging
47
Features
48
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
65
Features
74
Overall
68

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5100 Key Specs

Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GF2
  • Successor is Panasonic GF5
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Introduced August 2014
  • Previous Model is Sony a5000
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Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5100 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Panasonic GF3 versus Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and a5100 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The GF3 was manufactured 4 years before the a5100 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the GF3 scores against the a5100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Sony a5100

 GF3 a5100 

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Panasonic GF3

 a5100 GF3 
IntroducedAugust 2014August 2011Newer by 36 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kSharper screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Sony a5100

 GF3 a5100 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic GF3 comes with outside dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Sony a5100 has sizing of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

See the Panasonic GF3 versus Sony a5100 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the GF3 vs the a5100.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF3 and a5100 is 90 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reading technical specs. The picture underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the GF3 and a5100.

As you can tell, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GF3 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Sony a5100 will offer you more detail due to its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged GF3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography details
Sony a5100 Portrait photography details
54
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
72
has manual focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Street photography features
Sony a5100 Street photography features
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
supports focus by touch
no moving screen
no image stabilization
82
tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
includes focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Sports photography info
Sony a5100 Sports photography info
37
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
low battery power (300 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
68
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking focus
good battery (400 per charge)
has phase detect autofocus
low fps (6.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Travel photography features
Sony a5100 Travel photography features
58
supports focus by touch
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery power (300 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
80
good battery (400 per charge)
includes focus by touch
megapixel count good (24MP)
built-in flash
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography information
Sony a5100 Landscape photography information
55
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
low battery power (300 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
good battery (400 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GF3
Vlogging with Sony a5100
32
touchscreen enabled
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have mic support
34
touch screen
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
lack of microphone socket
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Panasonic GF3 vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Sony a5100
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Sony Alpha a5100
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Sony Alpha a5100
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-08-11 2014-08-17
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 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 179
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.30 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 lb) 283g (0.62 lb)
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 All around score 50 80
DXO Color Depth score 20.6 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 12.7
DXO Low light score 459 1347
Other
Battery life 300 images 400 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $360 $448