Both Sony W690 and Panasonic GH3 have 16.0 MP resolution sensors but Sony W690's sensor is 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) and Panasonic GH3's sensor is Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ).
Since Panasonic GH3's has a larger sensor area with the same resolution, this means that it also has a larger pixel area hence better light collecting capacity for a given aperture compared to Sony W690.
Below you can see the W690 and GH3 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony W690 and Panasonic GH3 Cameras
As seen above, Panasonic GH3 has a 8.0x Larger sensor area than Sony W690. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Sony W690
or the
Panasonic GH3 ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(1/2.3-inch versus Four Thirds),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.
