Panasonic GX85 vs Sony NEX-3

Here is a extensive overview of the Panasonic GX85 vs Sony NEX-3, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the GX85 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is very close but the GX85 (Four Thirds) and NEX-3 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

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The GX85 was revealed 5 years later than the NEX-3 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the GX85 scores versus the NEX-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 & Sony Alpha NEX-3. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic GX85 Gallery & Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

If you are intending to carry your camera often, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic GX85 has physical dimensions of 122mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has sizing of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

See the Panasonic GX85 vs Sony NEX-3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the GX85 compared to the NEX-3.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the GX85 and NEX-3 is 83 and 89 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing simply by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic here might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the GX85 and NEX-3.

As you can see, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GX85 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Panasonic GX85 will result in greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The younger GX85 should have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.