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Sony G3 vs Sony A99

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony G3 vs Sony A99 Key Specs

Sony G3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 185g - 97 x 59 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2009
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Released December 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A900
  • Updated by Sony A99 II
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Sony G3 vs Sony A99 Overview

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Sony G3 vs Sony A99, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR and they are both built by Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the G3 (10MP) and A99 (24MP) and the G3 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) possess different sensor measurements.

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The G3 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the A99 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony G3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summary of how the G3 scores vs the A99 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony G3 over the Sony A99

 G3 A99 
Screen sizing3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sony G3

 A99 G3 
ReleasedDecember 2012January 2009Fresher by 47 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k921kSharper screen (+308k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony G3 and Sony A99

 G3 A99 
Focus manually More accurate focusing

Sony G3 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony G3 enjoys physical measurements of 97mm x 59mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) and the Sony A99 has measurements of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") and a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Contrast the Sony G3 vs Sony A99 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the G3 versus the A99.

Sony G3 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G3 and A99 is 94 and 57 respectively.

Sony G3 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sony G3 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizing purely by reading through specs. The visual below should give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the G3 and A99.

All in all, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The G3 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A99 will give extra detail due to its extra 14 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The older G3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony G3 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sony G3 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony G3 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony G3 Portrait photography factors
Sony A99 Portrait photography factors
26
focusing manually
no manual control
can't use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
81
has manual focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony G3
Street photography with Sony A99
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
75
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW files
environment proof
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony G3 Sports photography details
Sony A99 Sports photography details
23
image stabilization (Optical)
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,000 seconds)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
78
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
low battery power (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony G3 Travel photography details
Sony A99 Travel photography details
50
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
60
environment proof
good MP (24 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery power (500 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony G3 Landscape photography features
Sony A99 Landscape photography features
36
focusing manually
big screen (3.5 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
74
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proof
has dual storage slots
low battery power (500 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony G3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A99 as a Vlogging camera
27
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have mic port
76
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone jack
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Sony G3 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony G3 and Sony A99
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 Sony SLT-A99
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2009-01-08 2012-12-12
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-10.0 -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 1s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.30 m (Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 185 grams (0.41 pounds) 812 grams (1.79 pounds)
Dimensions 97 x 59 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 89
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1555
Other
Battery life - 500 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots Single 2
Retail price $200 $1,998