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Panasonic GF1 vs Sony A7R III

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 and the Sony Alpha A7R III are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in September 2009 and October 2017. Both the GF1 and the A7R III are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on a Four Thirds (GF1) and a full frame (A7R III) sensor. The Panasonic has a resolution of 12 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 42.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Panasonic GF1
versus
Sony A7R III
Panasonic GF1   Sony A7R III
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Micro Four Thirds lenses Sony E mount lenses
12 MP – Four Thirds sensor 42.2 MP – Full Frame sensor
720/30p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-3,200 ISO 100-32,000 (50 - 102,400)
Viewfinder optional Electronic viewfinder (3686k dots)
3.0" LCD – 460k dots 3.0" LCD – 1440k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Tilting touchscreen
3 shutter flaps per second 10 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
380 shots per battery charge650 shots per battery charge
119 x 71 x 36 mm, 385 g 127 x 96 x 74 mm, 650 g
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Check GF1 offers at
ebay.com
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Check A7R III offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 and the Sony Alpha A7R III? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Panasonic GF1 and the Sony A7R III are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Panasonic GF1 vs Sony A7R III
Compare GF1 versus A7R III top
Comparison GF1 or A7R III rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A7R III is considerably larger (44 percent) than the Panasonic GF1. Moreover, the A7R III is substantially heavier (69 percent) than the GF1. It is noteworthy in this context that the A7R III is splash and dust-proof, while the GF1 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (GF1) and the Sony FE Lens Catalog (A7R III). Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

Concerning battery life, the GF1 gets 380 shots out of its Panasonic DMW-BLB13 battery, while the A7R III can take 650 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-FZ100 power pack. The power pack in the A7R III can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic GF1 119 mm 71 mm 36 mm 385 g 380 n Sep 2009 US$ 749ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A7R III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 650 Y Oct 2017 US$ 3 199ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-P1 121 mm 70 mm 36 mm 355 g 300 n Jun 2009 US$ 799ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-P2 121 mm 70 mm 36 mm 355 g 300 n Nov 2009 US$ 799ebay.com
5.
 
Panasonic G1 124 mm 84 mm 45 mm 360 g 410 n Sep 2008 US$ 599ebay.com
6.
 
Panasonic G2 124 mm 84 mm 74 mm 428 g 360 n Mar 2010 US$ 599ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic G6 122 mm 85 mm 71 mm 390 g 340 n Apr 2013 US$ 599ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic G10 124 mm 84 mm 74 mm 388 g 380 n Mar 2010 US$ 499ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic GF2 113 mm 68 mm 33 mm 310 g 300 n Nov 2010 US$ 549ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GH1 124 mm 90 mm 45 mm 385 g 300 n Mar 2009 US$ 899ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GH2 124 mm 90 mm 76 mm 442 g 330 n Sep 2010 US$ 899ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic GX1 116 mm 68 mm 39 mm 318 g 320 n Nov 2011 US$ 699ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A7R II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 625 g 290 Y Jun 2015 US$ 3 199ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A7R IIIA 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 650 Y Apr 2021 US$ 3 199 amazon.com
15.
 
Sony A7R IV 129 mm 96 mm 78 mm 665 g 670 Y Jul 2019 US$ 3 499ebay.com
16.
 
Sony A7S II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 627 g 370 Y Sep 2015 US$ 2 999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A9 127 mm 96 mm 63 mm 673 g 650 Y Apr 2017 US$ 4 499ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The GF1 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 77 percent) than the A7R III, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Panasonic GF1 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Sony A7R III a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the A7R III is 283 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 1.0. The sensor in the GF1 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the A7R III offers a 3:2 aspect.

Panasonic GF1 and Sony A7R III sensor measures

With 42.2MP, the A7R III offers a higher resolution than the GF1 (12MP), but the A7R III nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.52μm versus 4.33μm for the GF1) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the A7R III is a much more recent model (by 8 years and 1 month) than the GF1, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the A7R III has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A7R III implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A7R III for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 39.8 x 26.5 inches or 101 x 67.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 31.8 x 21.2 inches or 80.8 x 53.9 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 26.5 x 17.7 inches or 67.3 x 44.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Panasonic GF1 are 20 x 15 inches or 50.8 x 38.1 cm for good quality, 16 x 12 inches or 40.6 x 30.5 cm for very good quality, and 13.3 x 10 inches or 33.9 x 25.4 cm for excellent quality prints.

The A7R III has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

Unlike the GF1, the A7R III has the capacity to capture high quality composite images by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A7R III are ISO 100 to ISO 32000, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-102400.

In terms of underlying technology, the GF1 is build around a CMOS sensor, while the A7R III uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

GF1 versus A7R III MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the A7R III offers substantially better image quality than the GF1 (overall score 46 points higher). The advantage is based on 4.8 bits higher color depth, 4.4 EV in additional dynamic range, and 2.8 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Panasonic GF1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.351354
2.
 
Sony A7R III Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.014.73523100
3.
 
Olympus E-P1 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.410.453655
4.
 
Olympus E-P2 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.510.450556
5.
 
Panasonic G1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000none21.110.346353
6.
 
Panasonic G2 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.349353
7.
 
Panasonic G6 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p21.311.563961
8.
 
Panasonic G10 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.141152
9.
 
Panasonic GF2 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/60i21.210.350654
10.
 
Panasonic GH1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/24p21.611.677264
11.
 
Panasonic GH2 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60i21.211.365560
12.
 
Panasonic GX1 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60p20.810.670355
13.
 
Sony A7R II Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.013.9343498
14.
 
Sony A7R IIIA Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.014.73523100
15.
 
Sony A7R IV Full Frame 60.2 9504 63364K/30p26.014.8334499
16.
 
Sony A7S II Full Frame 12.0 4240 28324K/30p23.613.3299385
17.
 
Sony A9 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.913.3351792

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the A7R III provides a better video resolution than the GF1. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Panasonic is limited to 720/30p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the A7R III has an electronic viewfinder (3686k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the GF1 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the GF1 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the DMW-LVF1. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Panasonic GF1 and Sony A7R III in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Panasonic GF1optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
2.
 
Sony A7R III3686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
3.
 
Olympus E-P1none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n Y
4.
 
Olympus E-P2optional n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n Y
5.
 
Panasonic G11440 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
6.
 
Panasonic G21440 n3.0 / 460 swivel Y 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
7.
 
Panasonic G61440 n3.0 / 1036 swivel Y 1/4000s 7.0/s Y n
8.
 
Panasonic G10202 n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
9.
 
Panasonic GF2optional n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
10.
 
Panasonic GH11440 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
11.
 
Panasonic GH21534 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
12.
 
Panasonic GX1optional n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.2/s Y n
13.
 
Sony A7R II2400 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
14.
 
Sony A7R IIIA3686 n3.0 / 2340 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
15.
 
Sony A7R IV5760 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
16.
 
Sony A7S II2400 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
17.
 
Sony A93686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The GF1 has one, while the A7R III does not. While the built-in flash of the GF1 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the A7R III is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Sony A7R III has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The GF1 writes its imaging data to SDHC cards, while the A7R III uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The A7R III features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the GF1 only has one slot. The A7R III supports UHS-II cards on its first slot and UHS-I on its second one, while the GF1 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 and Sony Alpha A7R III and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Panasonic GF1Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
2.
 
Sony A7R IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
3.
 
Olympus E-P1Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
4.
 
Olympus E-P2Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
5.
 
Panasonic G1Y- / ---mini2.0---
6.
 
Panasonic G2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
7.
 
Panasonic G6Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
8.
 
Panasonic G10Ymono / ---mini2.0---
9.
 
Panasonic GF2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
10.
 
Panasonic GH1Ystereo / -Y-mini2.0---
11.
 
Panasonic GH2Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
12.
 
Panasonic GX1Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
13.
 
Sony A7R IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
14.
 
Sony A7R IIIAYstereo / monoYYmicro3.2YYY
15.
 
Sony A7R IVYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
16.
 
Sony A7S IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
17.
 
Sony A9Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0YYY

It is notable that the A7R III offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the GF1 does not provide wifi capability.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Sony A7R III (unlike the GF1) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the GF1 and the A7R III have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The GF1 was replaced by the Panasonic DMC-GF2, while the A7R III was followed by the Sony A7R IV. Further information on the features and operation of the GF1 and A7R III can be found, respectively, in the Panasonic GF1 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A7R III Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Panasonic GF1 and the Sony A7R III? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

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Advantages of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1:

  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • More compact: Is smaller (119x71mm vs 127x96mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 265g or 41 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (77 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2009).

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Reasons to prefer the Sony Alpha A7R III:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (42.2 vs 12MP), which boosts linear resolution by 91%.
  • Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
  • High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
  • Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (46 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (4.8 bits more color depth).
  • More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (4.4 EV of extra DR).
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (2.8 stops ISO advantage).
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 720/30p).
  • Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1440k vs 460k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (650 versus 380) out of a single battery charge.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.1 vs 2.0).
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Supports Ultra High Speed (UHS-II and UHS-I) SDXC cards.
  • More modern: Reflects 8 years and 1 month of technical progress since the GF1 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A7R III is the clear winner of the contest (31 : 6 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

GF1 06:31 A7R III

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Panasonic GF1 and the Sony A7R III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the GF1 or the A7R III perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic GF1..85/100..69/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2009 US$ 749ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A7R III..+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2017 US$ 3 199ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-P1..+..66/1004/54.5/5 Jun 2009 US$ 799ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-P23/5+..69/1004/54.5/5 Nov 2009 US$ 799ebay.com
5.
 
Panasonic G1..+ +..70/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2008 US$ 599ebay.com
6.
 
Panasonic G2......72/1004/54.5/5 Mar 2010 US$ 599ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic G64/5+ +....5/54.5/5 Apr 2013 US$ 599ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic G103/5....70/1004/54/5 Mar 2010 US$ 499ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic GF23/582/100..70/1004.5/54.5/5 Nov 2010 US$ 549ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GH1..+ +..72/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2009 US$ 899ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GH25/5+ +..79/1004.5/55/5 Sep 2010 US$ 899ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic GX13/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Nov 2011 US$ 699ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A7R II5/5+ +5/590/1005/55/5 Jun 2015 US$ 3 199ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A7R IIIA..+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Apr 2021 US$ 3 199 amazon.com
15.
 
Sony A7R IV5/5+4.5/591/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2019 US$ 3 499ebay.com
16.
 
Sony A7S II5/5+....4.5/55/5 Sep 2015 US$ 2 999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A95/5+ +4.8/589/1005/55/5 Apr 2017 US$ 4 499ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Check GF1 offers at
ebay.com
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Check A7R III offers at
ebay.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Panasonic GF1 vs Sony A7R III

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Panasonic GF1 Sony A7R III
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date September 2009 October 2017
    Launch Price USD 749 USD 3,199
    Sensor Specs Panasonic GF1 Sony A7R III
    Sensor Technology CMOS BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 35.9 x 24.0 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 861.6 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 43.2 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 12 Megapixels 42.2 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4000 x 3000 pixels 7952 x 5304 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.33 μm 4.52 μm
    Pixel Density 5.34 MP/cm2 4.90 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 720/30p Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 3,200 ISO 100 - 32,000 ISO
    ISO Boost no Enhancement 50 - 102,400 ISO
    Image Processor Venus HD BIONZ X
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 54 100
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.2 26.0
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.3 14.7
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 513 3523
    Screen Specs Panasonic GF1 Sony A7R III
    Viewfinder Type Viewfinder optional Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.78x
    Viewfinder Resolution 3686k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 460k dots 1440k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Tilting screen
    Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Panasonic GF1 Sony A7R III
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 10 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterno E-ShutterYES
    Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
    Image StabilizationLens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDHC cards MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    UHS card support no Single UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs Panasonic GF1 Sony A7R III
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash no PC Sync PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 3.1
    HDMI Port mini HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
    Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication no NFC NFC built-in
    Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Panasonic GF1 Sony A7R III
    Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Panasonic DMW-BLB13 Sony NP-FZ100
    Battery Life (CIPA)380 shots per charge650 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 119 x 71 x 36 mm
    (4.7 x 2.8 x 1.4 in)
    127 x 96 x 74 mm
    (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.9 in)
    Camera Weight 385 g (13.6 oz) 650 g (22.9 oz)
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