Sony NEX-3 vs Panasonic GM1

Sony NEX-3 advantages over Panasonic GM1

• Less expensive
  $600 vs $750 (MSRP)
  Save money for lenses or accessories
• Larger sensor
  APS-C vs 4/3
  More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
• Bigger pixels
  ~ 5.16 vs 3.77 microns
  Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
• In-camera panoramas
  Yes vs No
  Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
• Tiltable Screen
  Tiltable vs Fixed
  Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
• Higher effective ISO

  Higher effective ISO

  Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

  Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

  You can learn more at our glossary entry.

  Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.

  NEX-3 test data on DxO Mark GM1 test data on DxO Mark
  830 vs 660 iso
  Take photos in low light with less noise
• Longer stills battery life
  More info

  Longer stills battery life

  Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

  Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

  330 vs 230 shots
  Capture more photos
• More telephoto lens reach
  83 mm vs 64 mm
  Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
• Higher max flash sync
  1/160 vs 1/50 sec
  Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
• Hot shoe
  Hot shoe vs None
  Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
• Bulb shutter
  Bulb vs No bulb
  Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
• Bigger JPEG buffer
  38 vs 10 shots
  Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)