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Panasonic GH3 vs Sony A6500

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
68
Features
85
Overall
74

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony A6500 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
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Superseded the Panasonic GH2
  • Updated by Panasonic GH4
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Introduced October 2016
  • Earlier Model is Sony A6300
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Panasonic GH3 vs Sony A6500 Overview

In this article, we are evaluating the Panasonic GH3 versus Sony A6500, both Advanced Mirrorless cameras by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a big gap among the image resolutions of the GH3 (16MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the GH3 (Four Thirds) and A6500 (APS-C) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The GH3 was unveiled 5 years earlier than the A6500 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a brief overview of how the GH3 scores versus the A6500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Sony A6500

 GH3 A6500 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Panasonic GH3

 A6500 GH3 
IntroducedOctober 2016September 2012More recent by 49 months
Display resolution922k614kClearer display (+308k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Sony A6500

 GH3 A6500 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic GH3 has got outside dimensions of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Sony A6500 has specifications of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GH3 versus Sony A6500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the GH3 against the A6500.

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GH3 and A6500 is 66 and 81 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to visualize the gap in sensor measurements purely by viewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH3 and A6500.

Clearly, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GH3 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony A6500 will render more detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics far more aggressively. The older GH3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography factors
Sony A6500 Portrait photography factors
71
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
80
has manual focus
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Street photography factors
Sony A6500 Street photography factors
65
screen articulates
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers touch focus
weather proof
no image stabilization
heavier than competition (550 grams)
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
comes with focus by touch
weather proofing
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Sports photography details
Sony A6500 Sports photography details
63
high max frames per second (20.0 frames/s)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proof
better than average battery power (540 shots)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
77
silent shutter (1/32,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
terrible battery life (350 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Travel photography details
Sony A6500 Travel photography details
71
better than average battery power (540 per charge)
weather proof
offers touch focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
heavier than competition (550 grams)
74
weather proofing
has bluetooth
comes with focus by touch
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
terrible battery life (350 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Landscape photography advice
Sony A6500 Landscape photography advice
71
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
better than average battery power (540 per charge)
no image stabilization
80
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
terrible battery life (350 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Vlogging highlights
Sony A6500 Vlogging highlights
65
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic jack
no image stabilization
heavier than competition (550 grams)
39
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have microphone port
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic GH3 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Sony A6500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Sony Alpha a6500
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-09-17 2016-10-06
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine VII FHD Bionz X
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 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 425
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 614k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech OLED Monitor with static touch control -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,744k dot 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shutter speed 20.0fps 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 550 gr (1.21 pounds) 453 gr (1.00 pounds)
Dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 71 85
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 24.5
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 13.7
DXO Low light score 812 1405
Other
Battery life 540 photographs 350 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $799 $1,298