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Panasonic GF3 vs Sony HX400V

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony HX400V 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
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF2
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GF5
Sony HX400V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 660g - 130 x 93 x 103mm
  • Introduced February 2014
  • Superseded the Sony HX300
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Panasonic GF3 vs Sony HX400V Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Panasonic GF3 versus Sony HX400V, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and HX400V (20MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and HX400V (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

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The GF3 was unveiled 3 years before the HX400V and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick view of how the GF3 scores versus the HX400V for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Sony HX400V

 GF3 HX400V 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX400V over the Panasonic GF3

 HX400V GF3 
IntroducedFebruary 2014August 2011Fresher by 30 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Sony HX400V

 GF3 HX400V 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony HX400V Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF3 features exterior measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Sony HX400V has dimensions of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") and a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GF3 versus Sony HX400V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the GF3 and the HX400V.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony HX400V size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the GF3 and HX400V is 90 and 62 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony HX400V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony HX400V Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizing only by viewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the GF3 and HX400V.

Clearly, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GF3 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony HX400V will result in more detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older GF3 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony HX400V sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony HX400V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony HX400V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography information
Sony HX400V Portrait photography information
55
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
low MP (12 megapixels)
51
manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GF3
Street photography with Sony HX400V
70
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
includes focus via touch
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
50
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
heavier than competition (660g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Sports photography features
Sony HX400V Sports photography features
38
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery pack (300 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
55
incredible zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Travel photography info
Sony HX400V Travel photography info
58
includes focus via touch
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery pack (300 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
53
megapixel count good (20MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
long reach (1200mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (660 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography information
Sony HX400V Landscape photography information
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
49
manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Vlogging factors
Sony HX400V Vlogging factors
32
touch screen
supports face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of microphone jack
29
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic support
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
heavier than competition (660g)
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Panasonic GF3 vs Sony HX400V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Sony HX400V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-08-11 2014-02-12
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 160 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 8.50 m (ISO Auto)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 264 grams (0.58 lb) 660 grams (1.46 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 130 x 93 x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 50 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 459 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos 300 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at release $360 $448