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Panasonic GF7 vs Sony a3500

Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
66
Overall
58
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Panasonic GF7 vs Sony a3500 Key Specs

Panasonic GF7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF6
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GF8
Sony a3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Released March 2014
  • Superseded the Sony A3000
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Panasonic GF7 vs Sony a3500 Overview

Following is a extensive overview of the Panasonic GF7 versus Sony a3500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the GF7 (16MP) and the a3500 (20MP) is pretty close but the GF7 (Four Thirds) and a3500 (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

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The GF7 was launched 11 months after the a3500 so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief overview of how the GF7 grades vs the a3500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF7 over the Sony a3500

 GF7 a3500 
ReleasedFebruary 2015March 2014More modern by 11 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Panasonic GF7

 a3500 GF7 

Common features in the Panasonic GF7 and Sony a3500

 GF7 a3500 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic GF7 vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and size. The Panasonic GF7 enjoys outer measurements of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Sony a3500 has specifications of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GF7 versus Sony a3500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the GF7 versus the a3500.

Panasonic GF7 vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the GF7 and a3500 is 90 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic GF7 vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF7 vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes purely by viewing a spec sheet. The picture here should provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the GF7 and a3500.

Clearly, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The GF7 because of its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony a3500 will render more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more modern GF7 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF7 vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF7 vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF7 vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF7
Portrait photography with Sony a3500
65
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
77
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF7 as a Street photography camera
Sony a3500 as a Street photography camera
80
tilting screen
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
57
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than average (411g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF7 as a Sports photography camera
Sony a3500 as a Sports photography camera
52
great max shutter speed (1/16,000s)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (5.8 frames/s)
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (230 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
60
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
great battery (470 per charge)
max fps very slow (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF7 Travel photography factors
Sony a3500 Travel photography factors
70
comes with focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
not so great battery life (230 shots)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
60
great battery (470 shots)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than average (411g)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF7 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony a3500 as a Landscape photography camera
69
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (230 per charge)
70
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3")
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
great battery (470 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GF7
Vlogging with Sony a3500
33
touchscreen capability
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
does not have mic port
26
provides face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
lack of microphone jack
more heavy than average (411 grams)
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Panasonic GF7 vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF7 and Sony a3500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7Sony Alpha a3500
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 Sony Alpha a3500
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2015-02-01 2014-03-21
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine BIONZ image
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 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3448 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 25600 16000
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/16000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.8 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 266 grams (0.59 pounds) 411 grams (0.91 pounds)
Dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 230 shots 470 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card -
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $308 $398