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Panasonic GX1 vs Sony a3500

Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
54
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony a3500 Key Specs

Panasonic GX1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 318g - 116 x 68 x 39mm
  • Released February 2012
  • Renewed by Panasonic GX7
Sony a3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Introduced March 2014
  • Earlier Model is Sony A3000
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Panasonic GX1 vs Sony a3500 Overview

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Panasonic GX1 versus Sony a3500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the GX1 (16MP) and the a3500 (20MP) is very similar but the GX1 (Four Thirds) and a3500 (APS-C) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The GX1 was revealed 3 years earlier than the a3500 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GX1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a simple view of how the GX1 matches up vs the a3500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX1 over the Sony a3500

 GX1 a3500 
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Panasonic GX1

 a3500 GX1 
IntroducedMarch 2014February 2012More recent by 25 months

Common features in the Panasonic GX1 and Sony a3500

 GX1 a3500 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic GX1 features exterior dimensions of 116mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 318 grams (0.70 lbs) while the Sony a3500 has sizing of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GX1 versus Sony a3500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is the front view scale comparison of the GX1 vs the a3500.

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GX1 and a3500 is 87 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to picture the contrast between sensor measurements just by reviewing specs. The graphic below may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the GX1 and a3500.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GX1 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony a3500 will deliver extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The older GX1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Portrait photography info
Sony a3500 Portrait photography info
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW files
77
manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Street photography info
Sony a3500 Street photography info
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
features focus via touch
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
57
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
more heavy than competitors (411g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Sports photography advice
Sony a3500 Sports photography advice
47
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
60
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (470 per charge)
slow fps (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony a3500 as a Travel photography camera
65
features focus via touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (300 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
60
better than average battery pack (470 CIPA)
megapixel count good (20MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (411g)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Landscape photography info
Sony a3500 Landscape photography info
62
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
70
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (470 shots)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GX1
Vlogging with Sony a3500
32
touch screen
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
missing mic support
26
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone port
more heavy than competitors (411 grams)
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Panasonic GX1 vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX1 and Sony a3500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1Sony Alpha a3500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Sony Alpha a3500
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-02-14 2014-03-21
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD BIONZ image
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 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3448 5456 x 3632
Highest native ISO 12800 16000
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.60 m 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 318 grams (0.70 lbs) 411 grams (0.91 lbs)
Dimensions 116 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 703 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 470 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $228 $398