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Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
91
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
57
Features
57
Overall
57

Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-C3 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
  • Superseded the Panasonic GM1
Sony NEX-C3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
  • Launched August 2011
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-3
  • Updated by Sony NEX-F3
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Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic GM5 versus Sony NEX-C3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the GM5 (16MP) and the NEX-C3 (16MP) is very well matched but the GM5 (Four Thirds) and NEX-C3 (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The GM5 was revealed 3 years later than the NEX-C3 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going right into a full comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the GM5 matches up versus the NEX-C3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GM5 over the Sony NEX-C3

 GM5 NEX-C3 
LaunchedSeptember 2014August 2011Fresher by 38 months
Display resolution921k920kClearer display (+1k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Panasonic GM5

 NEX-C3 GM5 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Panasonic GM5 and Sony NEX-C3

 GM5 NEX-C3 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera often, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GM5 has external dimensions of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Sony NEX-C3 has measurements of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GM5 versus Sony NEX-C3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the GM5 compared to the NEX-C3.

Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GM5 and NEX-C3 is 91 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading through specs. The graphic underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the GM5 and NEX-C3.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras provide the same megapixel count but different sensor sizing. The GM5 has the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallower depth of field harder. The more modern GM5 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography information
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
74
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Street photography details
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography details
76
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
includes touch to focus
lighter than average in class (211 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than average in class (225g)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography info
49
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/500s)
slow continuous shooting (5.8 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (220 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
53
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
better than average battery power (400 shots)
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography advice
71
lighter than average in class (211 grams)
includes touch to focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
not so great battery (220 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
71
better than average battery power (400 shots)
lighter than average in class (225 grams)
good MP (16MP)
no Time Lapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GM5
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-C3
69
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (220 per charge)
70
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (400 shots)
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging advice
35
touchscreen enabled
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (211 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
missing microphone jack
27
lighter than average in class (225g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
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Panasonic GM5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GM5 and Sony NEX-C3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2014-09-15 2011-08-22
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 dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3448 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/500 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 5.8 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
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
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 211 gr (0.47 lb) 225 gr (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 99 x 60 x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 66 73
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 12.2
DXO Low light rating 721 1083
Other
Battery life 220 shots 400 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DMW-BLH7 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $966 $343