Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GF3
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-5

80
"The system for manually positioning AF points is quick and easy to use."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's auto-focus
"High quality video mode"
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Color depth
 Great color depth
22.2 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 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
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

54
"The JPEGs aren't uniformly great; in our testing, even shots at ISO 160 had some noise in shadow areas."
reviews.cnet.com | talking about the DMC-GF3's iso-noise
"The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 delivers excellent performance and good-to-great photo quality."
reviews.cnet.com | talking about the DMC-GF3's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
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
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 312 ms vs 441 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when taking photos
Lens availability More lenses available 26 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 Around 3.5x more lenses available
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
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
Lowest price Cheaper $394.00 vs $569.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $175 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Weight Slightly lighter 264 g vs 287 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF3

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 69.0 vs 50.0
Help
 Around 40% better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 796 ISO vs 459 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5 has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
Startup delay Much less startup delay 1000 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when turning on
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 2.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 22.2 bits vs 20.6 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.6 more bits of color
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
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5'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-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
54 vs 80
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-5.

advice

Need help deciding?

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I am considering either the Panasonic DMC-GF3 or the Sony NEX-5,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
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by Rajesh-Venkataraman last month
Panasonic DMC-GF3 vs Sony C3

I am a point and shoot photographer. I would like to upgrade to a bit more professional camera b...

One person recommends the Sony C3:

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similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 30fps
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Size Fairly small Help
DMC-GF3:107x67x32 mm
NEX-5:111x59x38 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
DMC-GF3:$394.00
NEX-5:$569.00
Weight Light weight Help
DMC-GF3:264 g
NEX-5:287 g
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
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 NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 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-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NEX C3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the NEX C3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$689 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-G3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the Lumix DMC-G3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$731 - $964 with 14-42mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 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

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Startup delay More startup delay
Lowest price Significantly more expensive
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Size Larger
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha NEX-5

appearance

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

discussion

Showing 4 comments

Dgq1 (11:20 AM, December 04, 2011)
ho la nex-5 da quasi 1 anno, eccezionale nelle immagini, ottima nei video hd tranne che per la durata delle riprese (si scalda rapidamente e si blocca)! Spero duri più di 3 anni senza guastarsi..!
 
Guest (2:31 PM, November 12, 2011)
GF3's better !!!!
 
Jjg_loves_shane (0:14 PM, November 06, 2011)
gf3 is better!!!!
 
Burg0222 (9:08 PM, July 30, 2011)
Panasonic has a more solid feel...picture quality about the same.