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Panasonic GH3 vs Sony NEX-7

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-7 front
Portability
84
Imaging
64
Features
71
Overall
66

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony NEX-7 Key Specs

Panasonic GH3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 550g - 133 x 93 x 82mm
  • Announced September 2012
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GH2
  • Replacement is Panasonic GH4
Sony NEX-7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Launched December 2011
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony NEX-7 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Panasonic GH3 versus Sony NEX-7, both Advanced Mirrorless cameras by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the GH3 (16MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the GH3 (Four Thirds) and NEX-7 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The GH3 was unveiled 10 months later than the NEX-7 so they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the GH3 scores against the NEX-7 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Sony NEX-7

 GH3 NEX-7 
LaunchedSeptember 2012December 2011Fresher by 10 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Panasonic GH3

 NEX-7 GH3 
Screen resolution921k614kClearer screen (+307k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Sony NEX-7

 GH3 NEX-7 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony NEX-7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH3 provides exterior measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") along with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-7 has measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GH3 versus Sony NEX-7 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the GH3 versus the NEX-7.

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony NEX-7 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the GH3 and NEX-7 is 66 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony NEX-7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony NEX-7 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to see the difference in sensor sizing simply by seeing specifications. The photograph here might give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the GH3 and NEX-7.

To sum up, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GH3 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony NEX-7 will produce more detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs way more aggressively. The newer GH3 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony NEX-7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-7 as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW files
78
manual focus
decent MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GH3
Street photography with Sony NEX-7
65
screen articulates fully
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports touch to focus
environment sealing
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (550g)
76
has a tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GH3
Sports photography with Sony NEX-7
63
fast shooting (20.0 frames/s)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment sealing
better than average battery power (540 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
62
decent MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good battery power (430 CIPA)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-7 Travel photography highlights
71
better than average battery power (540 per charge)
environment sealing
supports touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
heavier than competition in class (550g)
70
good battery power (430 CIPA)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-7 Landscape photography features
71
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
better than average battery power (540 shots)
does not have image stabilization
72
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
good battery power (430 per charge)
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Vlogging information
Sony NEX-7 Vlogging information
65
selfie friendly screen
touch screen
offers face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic support
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (550 grams)
35
has face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone support
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
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Panasonic GH3 vs Sony NEX-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Sony NEX-7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Sony Alpha NEX-7
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Sony Alpha NEX-7
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2012-09-17 2011-12-13
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine VII FHD Bionz
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 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 16000
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 614k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech OLED Monitor with static touch control -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,744k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 20.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 24 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
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 550 gr (1.21 lbs) 400 gr (0.88 lbs)
Physical dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 71 81
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 24.1
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 13.4
DXO Low light score 812 1016
Other
Battery life 540 photographs 430 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $799 $699