Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GF3
 vs
Sony
NEX-5N

Updated (August, 2012): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 vs Sony NEX-5R Hands-on P

Sony NEX-5N

92

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

50

  
Winner

Sony NEX-5N

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,079 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
77.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.6 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.7 EV
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Size
 Really small
Compact 107x67x32 mm
Thickness
 Thin
1.3"
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF3
Lens availability More lenses available 26 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 Around 3.5x more lenses available
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.5"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $513.99 vs $649.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $136 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF3

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 459 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5N has excellent image quality 1.2 f-stops higher ISO than the DMC-GF3
Overall image quality Much better image quality 77.0 vs 50.0
Help
 More than 50% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 2.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 20.6 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 3 more bits of color
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 460 shots vs 320 shots
Help
 More than 40% more shots per battery charge
True resolution Higher true resolution 16 MP vs 12 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
 More than 60% larger sensor
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 3.8 fps
Help
 More than 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
50 vs 92
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-5N.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Touch screen Have touch screens Help
Less buttons
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Size Fairly small Help
DMC-GF3:107x67x32 mm
NEX-5N:111x59x38 mm
Weight Light weight Help
DMC-GF3:264 g
NEX-5N:269 g
Focus points Few focus points Help
DMC-GF3:23
NEX-5N:25
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 - $782 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the NEX-5N
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$324 - $699 with 20-50mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Touch screen Doesn't have a touch screen
Compare the NX1000 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the NX1000 vs the NEX-5N
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$497 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the 1 J1 vs the NEX-5N
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$239 - $249 body only

$399 - $419 with 14-42mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the NEX-5N
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Touch screen Doesn't have a touch screen
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the NEX-5N

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 14-42mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Size Slightly larger
Thickness Thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$380 - $555 with 14-42mm lens
Startup delay Less startup delay
Overall image quality Better image quality
Battery life Slightly shorter battery life
Weight Heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Touch screen No touch screen
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$499 body only
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Size Significantly larger
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the Lumix DMC-G3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Touch screen No touch screen
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Battery life Slightly longer battery life
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the NEX-5N
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the NEX-7 vs the NEX-5N

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Sony NEX-5N
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Sony NEX-5N
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Sony NEX-5N

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Jpcom88 (8:57 AM, September 02, 2011)
5N got（Handheld Twilight），If GF3 using handheld for night shot will blur or not ? 
Please advice, Thank you.