Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GF3
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-3

Updated (June, 2011): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 vs Sony NEX C3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

60

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

50

  

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-3

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
68.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
22.1 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12 EV
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
1000 ms startup delay
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF3
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Lens availability More lenses available 26 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 Around 3.5x more lenses available
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 312 ms vs 670 ms
Help
 2.1x less delay when taking photos
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
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Weight Slightly lighter 264 g vs 297 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF3

Advantages of the Sony NEX-3
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 68.0 vs 50.0
Help
 Around 40% better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 830 ISO vs 459 ISO
Help
 The NEX-3 has a slight edge (0.9 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 1.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 20.6 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.5 more bits of color
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
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
Startup delay Less startup delay 1000 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when turning on
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The NEX-3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
 More than 60% larger sensor
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 12 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 7 fps vs 3.8 fps
Help
 More than 80% faster continuous shooting
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 330 shots vs 320 shots
Help
 Almost the same
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
50 vs 60
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-3.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
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-3:117x62x33 mm
Thickness Thin Help
1.3"
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
0
Focus points Few focus points Help
DMC-GF3:23
NEX-3:25
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
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Sony Alpha NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$397 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 Alpha NEX-3
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-3
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$324 - $449 with 20-50mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NX1000 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the NX1000 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$239 - $249 body only

$399 - $419 with 14-42mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Alpha NEX-3

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

Sony Alpha NEX-3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Image stabilization Image stabilization
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the Alpha NEX-3

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Sony Alpha NEX-3

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