Updated (November, 2011): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 vs Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

76

Winner

Sony NEX C3

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX C3

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
1,083 ISO
Overall image quality
Great image quality
73.0
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
921k dots
Color depth
Great color depth
22.7 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
True resolution
High true resolution
16 MP
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

40

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF1

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
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 409 ms vs 430 ms
Help
Almost the same
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF1

Advantages of the Sony C3

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,083 ISO vs 513 ISO
Help
The C3 has excellent image quality 1.1 f-stops higher ISO than the DMC-GF1
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 73.0 vs 54.0
Help
Around 40% better image quality
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 460k dots
Help
More than 2x higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.3 EV
Help
1.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 21.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.5 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
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus Yes vs No
Help
Record movies without worrying about focus
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The C3's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
True resolution Significantly 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 18.0x13.5mm
Help
More than 50% larger sensor
Startup delay Less startup delay 1200 ms vs 1400 ms
Help
More than 10% less delay when turning on
Size Smaller 110x60x33 mm vs 119x71x36 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $548.00 vs $1,125.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $577 cheaper (2.1x less)
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 5.5 fps vs 3 fps
Help
More than 80% faster continuous shooting
Weight Lighter 225 g vs 330 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.4"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Sony NEX C3 Learn more about
the Sony C3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
40 vs 76
Explain scores
Sony NEX C3 Sony NEX C3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX C3.

advice

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by Amy-Elser this month
Sony C3 vs Sony NEX-3

I am essentially a beginner.  I'd like to  try to video my kids events and pull pictures from th...

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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:

" Although the Sony NEX C3 doesn't have a built in flash it would still be my top choice. The N..."

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Battery life Great battery life Help
400 shots
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
DMC-GF1:409 ms
C3:430 ms
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Startup delay Has much more startup delay
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$731 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Weight Is slightly heavier
Battery life Has a significantly shorter battery life
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$797 - $947 with 10-30mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens

Image stabilization Image stabilization
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen size Much smaller screen
Shutter lag Much more shutter lag
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$339

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Startup delay Much more startup delay
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,199

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Startup delay Much more startup delay
Screen size Significantly smaller screen

Sony NEX C3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$689 with 18-55mm lens

Storage slots Has more storage slots
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Size Larger
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Low light performance Much more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Sony NEX C3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Sony NEX C3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Sony NEX C3

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