Sony A55 has a
16.0MP APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Bionz processor. On the other hand, Panasonic GF3 has a
12.0MP Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine FHD processor.
Below you can see the A55 and GF3 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony A55 and Panasonic GF3 Cameras
As seen above, Sony A55 has a 1.6x Larger sensor area than Panasonic GF3. 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.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
Both Sony A55 and Panasonic GF3 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, A55 has scored 73, 23 points higher than GF3.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Sony A55
73
23.0 bits
12.4 Evs
816 ISO
Panasonic GF3
50
20.6 bits
10.1 Evs
459 ISO
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 A55
or the
Panasonic GF3 ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(APS-C 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.
