Panasonic GH3 vs Sony a1

Its time to take a closer look at the Panasonic GH3 vs Sony a1, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the GH3 (16MP) and a1 (50MP) and the GH3 (Four Thirds) and a1 (Full frame) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The GH3 was revealed 9 years earlier than the a1 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summation of how the GH3 matches up vs the a1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 & Sony Alpha a1. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic GH3 Gallery & Sony a1 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GH3 provides outer measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") and a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Sony a1 has proportions of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GH3 vs Sony a1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the GH3 vs the a1.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GH3 and a1 is 66 and 61 respectively.

Sometimes, it is tough to see the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading specs. The graphic underneath might provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the GH3 and a1.

All in all, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GH3 with its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Sony a1 will deliver more detail because of its extra 34MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older GH3 is going to be behind in sensor tech.