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Panasonic L1 vs Sony A7S III

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 and the Sony Alpha 7S III are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in February 2006 and July 2020. The L1 is a DSLR, while the A7S III is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (L1) and a full frame (A7S III) sensor. The Panasonic has a resolution of 7.4 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 12 MP.

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

Headline Specifications
Panasonic L1
versus
Sony A7S III
Panasonic L1   Sony A7S III
Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Four Thirds lenses Sony E mount lenses
7.4 MP – Four Thirds sensor 12 MP – Full Frame sensor
no Video 4K/120p Video
ISO 100-1,600 ISO 80-102,400 (40 - 409,600)
Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (9440k dots)
2.5" LCD – 207k dots 3.0" LCD – 1440k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Swivel touchscreen
3 shutter flaps per second 10 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
750 shots per battery charge600 shots per battery charge
146 x 87 x 64 mm, 606 g 127 x 97 x 81 mm, 699 g
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Check L1 offers at
ebay.com
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Check A7S III price at
amazon.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 and the Sony Alpha 7S 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 side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Panasonic L1 and the Sony A7S III. 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 L1 vs Sony A7S III
Compare L1 versus A7S III top
Comparison L1 or A7S III rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A7S III is somewhat smaller (3 percent) than the Panasonic L1. However, the A7S III is markedly heavier (15 percent) than the L1. It is noteworthy in this context that the A7S III is splash and dust-proof, while the L1 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 Four Thirds Lens Catalog (L1) and the Sony FE Lens Catalog (A7S III). Mirrorless cameras, such as the A7S III, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

The power pack in the A7S III can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons 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 L1 146 mm 87 mm 64 mm 606 g 750 n Feb 2006 US$ 999ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A7S III 127 mm 97 mm 81 mm 699 g 600 Y Jul 2020 US$ 3 499 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon 300D 142 mm 99 mm 72 mm 649 g 400 n Aug 2003 US$ 899ebay.com
4.
 
Canon 350D 127 mm 94 mm 64 mm 540 g 400 n Feb 2005 US$ 899ebay.com
5.
 
Leica Digilux 3 146 mm 87 mm 77 mm 606 g 750 n Sep 2006 US$ 1 499ebay.com
6.
 
Leica V-LUX 1 141 mm 86 mm 142 mm 734 g 360 n Sep 2006 US$ 849ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D70s 140 mm 111 mm 78 mm 679 g 500 n Apr 2005 US$ 899ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D80 132 mm 103 mm 77 mm 668 g 600 n Aug 2006 US$ 999ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-300 147 mm 85 mm 64 mm 624 g 750 n Sep 2004 US$ 799ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-330 140 mm 87 mm 72 mm 637 g 750 n Jan 2006 US$ 999ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-500 130 mm 95 mm 66 mm 479 g 750 n Sep 2005 US$ 599ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic L10 135 mm 96 mm 78 mm 556 g 450 n Aug 2007 US$ 599ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A7R III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 650 Y Oct 2017 US$ 3 199ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A7R IV 129 mm 96 mm 78 mm 665 g 670 Y Jul 2019 US$ 3 499ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A7R IVA 129 mm 96 mm 78 mm 665 g 670 Y Apr 2021 US$ 3 499 amazon.com
16.
 
Sony A7S II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 627 g 370 Y Sep 2015 US$ 2 999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A9 II 129 mm 96 mm 76 mm 678 g 690 Y Oct 2019 US$ 4 499 amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The L1 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 71 percent) than the A7S 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 size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants 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 are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Panasonic L1 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Sony A7S III a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the A7S III is 276 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 L1 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the A7S III offers a 3:2 aspect.

Panasonic L1 and Sony A7S III sensor measures

With 12MP, the A7S III offers a higher resolution than the L1 (7.4MP), but the A7S III nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 8.40μm versus 5.51μm for the L1) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the A7S III is a much more recent model (by 14 years and 5 months) than the L1, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A7S III implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A7S III for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 21.2 x 14.2 inches or 53.8 x 36 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 17 x 11.3 inches or 43.1 x 28.8 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 14.1 x 9.4 inches or 35.9 x 24 cm. The corresponding values for the Panasonic L1 are 15.7 x 11.8 inches or 39.8 x 29.9 cm for good quality, 12.5 x 9.4 inches or 31.9 x 23.9 cm for very good quality, and 10.5 x 7.8 inches or 26.6 x 19.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The A7S III has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha 7S III are ISO 80 to ISO 102400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 40-409600.

In terms of underlying technology, the L1 is build around a CMOS sensor, while the A7S 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.

L1 versus A7S III MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar 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 L1 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352none20.810.48052
2.
 
Sony A7S III Full Frame 12.0 4240 28324K/120p23.713.9252086
3.
 
Canon 300D APS-C 6.3 3072 2048none21.010.854455
4.
 
Canon 350D APS-C 8.0 3456 2304none21.810.863760
5.
 
Leica Digilux 3 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352none21.010.612753
6.
 
Leica V-LUX 1 1/1.8 10.0 3648 2736480/30p18.49.5-72729
7.
 
Nikon D70s APS-C 6.0 3008 2000none20.410.352950
8.
 
Nikon D80 APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.111.252461
9.
 
Olympus E-300 Four Thirds 8.0 3264 2448none20.410.1-4048
10.
 
Olympus E-330 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352none20.810.47352
11.
 
Olympus E-500 Four Thirds 8.0 3264 2448none20.710.34551
12.
 
Panasonic L10 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.310.842955
13.
 
Sony A7R III Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.014.73523100
14.
 
Sony A7R IV Full Frame 60.2 9504 63364K/30p26.014.8334499
15.
 
Sony A7R IVA 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 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.0343493
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The A7S III indeed provides for movie recording, while the L1 does not. The highest resolution format that the A7S III can use is 4K/120p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the A7S III has an electronic viewfinder (9440k dots), while the L1 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinder in the A7S III offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the L1 (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the A7S III has a higher magnification (0.91x vs 0.47x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Panasonic L1 and Sony A7S 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 L1optical n2.5 / 207 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
2.
 
Sony A7S III9440 n3.0 / 1440 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
3.
 
Canon 300Doptical n1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
4.
 
Canon 350Doptical n1.8 / 115 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
5.
 
Leica Digilux 3optical n2.5 / 207 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
6.
 
Leica V-LUX 1235 n2.0 / 207 tilting n 1/2000s 2.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Nikon D70soptical n2.0 / 130 fixed n 1/8000s 3.0/s Y n
8.
 
Nikon D80optical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
9.
 
Olympus E-300optical n1.8 / 134 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
10.
 
Olympus E-330optical n2.5 / 215 tilting n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
11.
 
Olympus E-500optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
12.
 
Panasonic L10optical n2.5 / 207 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
13.
 
Sony A7R III3686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
14.
 
Sony A7R IV5760 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
15.
 
Sony A7R IVA5760 n3.0 / 2340 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 A9 II3686 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 L1 has one, while the A7S III does not. While the built-in flash of the L1 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The A7S III has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the L1 does not have a selfie-screen.

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 A7S 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 L1 writes its imaging data to SDHC cards, while the A7S III uses CFexpress (type A) or SDXC cards. The A7S III features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the L1 only has one slot. The A7S III supports UHS-II cards (on both slots), while the L1 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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-L1 and Sony Alpha 7S 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 L1Y- / ----2.0---
2.
 
Sony A7S IIIYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
3.
 
Canon 300DY- / ----1.1---
4.
 
Canon 350DY- / ----2.0---
5.
 
Leica Digilux 3Ystereo / mono---2.0---
6.
 
Leica V-LUX 1Ymono / mono---2.0---
7.
 
Nikon D70sY- / ----2.0---
8.
 
Nikon D80Y- / ----2.0---
9.
 
Olympus E-300Y- / ----2.0---
10.
 
Olympus E-330Y- / ----2.0---
11.
 
Olympus E-500Y- / ----2.0---
12.
 
Panasonic L10Y- / ----2.0---
13.
 
Sony A7R IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
14.
 
Sony A7R IVYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
15.
 
Sony A7R IVAYstereo / monoYYmicro3.2YYY
16.
 
Sony A7S IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
17.
 
Sony A9 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY

It is notable that the A7S III offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the L1 does not provide wifi capability.

The A7S III is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Sony. In contrast, the L1 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the L1 was succeeded by the Panasonic L10. Further information on the features and operation of the L1 and A7S III can be found, respectively, in the Panasonic L1 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A7S III Manual.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Panasonic L1 or the Sony A7S III – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

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Advantages of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1:

  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 93g or 13 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (750 versus 600) on a single battery charge.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (71 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2006).

ilogo

Reasons to prefer the Sony Alpha 7S III:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (12 vs 7.4MP), which boosts linear resolution by 30%.
  • Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
  • Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
  • More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
  • Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 4K/120p video.
  • Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.91x vs 0.47x).
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1440k vs 207k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • 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 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.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.2 vs 2.0).
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • 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) SDXC cards on both slots.
  • More modern: Reflects 14 years and 5 months of technical progress since the L1 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A7S III is the clear winner of the contest (28 : 6 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

L1 06:28 A7S III

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Panasonic L1 and the Sony A7S III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the L1 or the A7S III. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major 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 L1..85/100..+..3.5/5 Feb 2006 US$ 999ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A7S III4.5/5+ +5/591/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2020 US$ 3 499 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon 300D......+ +.... Aug 2003 US$ 899ebay.com
4.
 
Canon 350D..80/100..+ +o.. Feb 2005 US$ 899ebay.com
5.
 
Leica Digilux 3............ Sep 2006 US$ 1 499ebay.com
6.
 
Leica V-LUX 1............ Sep 2006 US$ 849ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D70s..........5/5 Apr 2005 US$ 899ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D80..+..+ +o4.5/5 Aug 2006 US$ 999ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-300......+o4.5/5 Sep 2004 US$ 799ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-330......+o.. Jan 2006 US$ 999ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-500..76/100..+ +.... Sep 2005 US$ 599ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic L10..85/100..+3.5/54/5 Aug 2007 US$ 599ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A7R III..+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2017 US$ 3 199ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A7R IV5/5+4.5/591/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2019 US$ 3 499ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A7R IVA5/5+4.5/591/1004.5/55/5 Apr 2021 US$ 3 499 amazon.com
16.
 
Sony A7S II5/5+....4.5/55/5 Sep 2015 US$ 2 999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A9 II....5/590/1005/55/5 Oct 2019 US$ 4 499 amazon.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 comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods 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 L1 offers at
ebay.com
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Check A7S III price at
amazon.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. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Panasonic L1 vs Sony A7S 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 L1 Sony A7S III
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Four Thirds lenses Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date February 2006 July 2020
    Launch Price USD 999 USD 3,499
    Sensor Specs Panasonic L1 Sony A7S III
    Sensor Technology CMOS BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 35.6 x 23.8 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 847.28 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 42.8 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 7.4 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 3136 x 2352 pixels 4240 x 2832 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 5.51 μm 8.40 μm
    Pixel Density 3.28 MP/cm2 1.42 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability no Video 4K/120p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 1,600 ISO 80 - 102,400 ISO
    ISO Boost no Enhancement 40 - 409,600 ISO
    Image Processor Venus BIONZ XR
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) .. 86
    DXO Color Depth (bits) .. 23.7
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) .. 13.9
    DXO Low Light (ISO) .. 2520
    Screen Specs Panasonic L1 Sony A7S III
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.47x 0.91x
    Viewfinder Resolution 9440k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 2.5inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 207k dots 1440k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Swivel screen
    Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Panasonic L1 Sony A7S III
    Focus System Phase-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
    Image StabilizationLens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDHC cards CFexA or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    UHS card support no Dual UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs Panasonic L1 Sony A7S III
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 3.2
    HDMI Port no HDMI full HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
    Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Panasonic L1 Sony A7S III
    Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Panasonic CGR-S602 Sony NP-FZ100
    Battery Life (CIPA)750 shots per charge600 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 146 x 87 x 64 mm
    (5.7 x 3.4 x 2.5 in)
    127 x 97 x 81 mm
    (5.0 x 3.8 x 3.2 in)
    Camera Weight 606 g (21.4 oz) 699 g (24.7 oz)
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