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Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
89
Imaging
49
Features
54
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
52
Overall
55

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs

Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF3
  • Renewed by Panasonic GF6
Sony NEX-3N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced February 2013
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-F3
  • Newer Model is Sony a5000
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Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

Here, we are matching up the Panasonic GF5 and Sony NEX-3N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the GF5 (12MP) and NEX-3N (16MP) and the GF5 (Four Thirds) and NEX-3N (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The GF5 was revealed 10 months prior to the NEX-3N so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a simple view of how the GF5 scores against the NEX-3N when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Sony NEX-3N

 GF5 NEX-3N 
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Panasonic GF5

 NEX-3N GF5 
IntroducedFebruary 2013April 2012Fresher by 10 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Panasonic GF5 and Sony NEX-3N

 GF5 NEX-3N 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF5 features physical dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3N has proportions of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GF5 and Sony NEX-3N in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at that moment. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the GF5 and the NEX-3N.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the GF5 and NEX-3N is 89 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading through specs. The graphic here will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF5 and NEX-3N.

All in all, both of those cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GF5 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony NEX-3N will give you more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older GF5 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-3N Portrait photography information
56
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
66
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Street photography advice
Sony NEX-3N Street photography advice
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
provides focus via touch
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
77
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-3N Sports photography features
41
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
slow fps (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
lack of phase detect autofocus
54
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great battery pack (480 CIPA)
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Travel photography camera
61
provides focus via touch
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
great battery pack (480 per charge)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography details
Sony NEX-3N Landscape photography details
59
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
70
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (480 per charge)
no image stabilization
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF5 Vlogging features
Sony NEX-3N Vlogging features
32
touchscreen capability
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of microphone port
28
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no mic support
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Panasonic GF5 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF5 and Sony NEX-3N
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5Sony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-04-05 2013-02-25
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
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
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 16000
Minimum native ISO 160 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.30 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 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, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 267 gr (0.59 lb) 269 gr (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 50 74
DXO Color Depth score 20.5 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 12.5
DXO Low light score 573 1067
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 480 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) -
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $600 $399