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Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
91
Imaging
53
Features
62
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Panasonic GM5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 211g - 99 x 60 x 36mm
  • Revealed September 2014
  • Replaced the Panasonic GM1
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Panasonic GM5 versus Sony NEX-3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the GM5 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is very similar but the GM5 (Four Thirds) and NEX-3 (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

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The GM5 was launched 4 years later than the NEX-3 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the GM5 scores vs the NEX-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GM5 over the Sony NEX-3

 GM5 NEX-3 
IntroducedSeptember 2014June 2010Fresher by 53 months
Display resolution921k920kCrisper display (+1k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Panasonic GM5

 NEX-3 GM5 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Panasonic GM5 and Sony NEX-3

 GM5 NEX-3 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GM5 provides outside dimensions of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GM5 versus Sony NEX-3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the GM5 vs the NEX-3.

Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GM5 and NEX-3 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizing only by reading specs. The visual below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the GM5 and NEX-3.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GM5 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Panasonic GM5 will offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The newer GM5 should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GM5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Street photography features
Sony NEX-3 Street photography features
76
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
offers focus by touch
lighter than others (211 grams)
very good ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography highlights
48
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/500s)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.8 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (220 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
52
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography advice
71
lighter than others (211g)
offers focus by touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly display
59
megapixel count good (14MP)
missing Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Landscape photography details
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography details
69
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
68
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3")
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging factors
34
has touchscreen
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (211g)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
lack of external mic port
27
offers face detection focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone port
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Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GM5 and Sony NEX-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2014-09-15 2010-06-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3448 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 921 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/500s 1/4000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 5.8 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 211 grams (0.47 lbs) 297 grams (0.65 lbs)
Physical dimensions 99 x 60 x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 66 68
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score 11.7 12.0
DXO Low light score 721 830
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 330 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DMW-BLH7 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $966 $0