Panasonic GH1 vs Sony NEX-3N

Let's look more in depth at the Panasonic GH1 vs Sony NEX-3N, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the GH1 (12MP) and NEX-3N (16MP) and the GH1 (Four Thirds) and NEX-3N (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The GH1 was revealed 4 years before the NEX-3N which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the GH1 grades against the NEX-3N in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 and Sony Alpha NEX-3N. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic GH1 Gallery and Sony NEX-3N Gallery.

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH1 enjoys outer dimensions of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") having a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3N has measurements of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GH1 vs Sony NEX-3N in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the GH1 compared to the NEX-3N.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GH1 and NEX-3N is 81 and 89 respectively.

More often than not, it's tough to see the gap in sensor sizes purely by going through specs. The image here may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH1 and NEX-3N.

All in all, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The GH1 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony NEX-3N will produce more detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged GH1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.