Competition for the NEX-C3: Panasonic announces the GF3
Panasonic announced the new Panasonic GF3 (here on Amazon) which competes against the Sony NEX-C3. But Panasonic didn’t manage to beat the NEX-C3 in term of size reduction. The Panasonic G3 is a bit less wide but the NEX-C3 is less height (and that despite the use of a bigger sensor). The real advantage of the m43 are the smaller pancake lenses. I do hope Sony will rethink their roadmap and add some nice primes!
P.S.: Direct search links to NEX-C3 preorders: Amazon, B&H, Adorama, J&R, eBay.
Jordi LM
2 years ago |Like the CZ 24mm 1.7 that never comes!!!
GJH2
2 years ago |The Leica will be 899 Euros. How much will the CZ 24mm be? About the same?
RubyStone
2 years ago |I think 699 Euros at most.
GJH2
2 years ago |Thanks Ruby.
STeve
2 years ago |Adorama has it listed for $599 US.
STeve
2 years ago |and 495 Euros at Mathers.
RTI
2 years ago |The fact is that Panasonic has the lenses to support their cameras. Optically their 14/2.5 is much better then sony 16/2.8 and it roughly gives the same wide angle. Truth is sony can’t make full use for their superior sensor with current lenses, I hope yet.
RTI
2 years ago |You can compare here http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=ro&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ixbt.com%2Fdigimage%2Fpanasonicgf3.shtml
Anonymous
2 years ago |Roughly? 24mm vs 28mm is a significant difference. You can’t compare them.
imanayAieR
2 years ago |can i say something that people has been saying towards the NEX?
WHAT A HORRIBLE GRIP! (take that!)
räven
2 years ago |I whole heartedly disagree! Love the nex-5 grip! (Take that!)
Sky_walker
2 years ago |m4/3 gets f/1.4 lenses and has nice setup of pancakes.
If not small sensor than NEX wouldn’t really have right of existence IMO. It’s a great shame Sony doesn’t plan to release pancakes any time soon. As same as it’s a shame that they don’t plan to release bright lenses. Than we’d have 2 sets: Big bright lenses for night time and small, darker pancakes for regular use. It’d make sense. Now we have plans for big dark lenses which leave a taste of disappointment. Hopefully Sony gonna reconsider.
Minoltian
2 years ago |if Minolta produces lenses for 2x sensor… it will be smaller than current m43 pancake lens… :p … pancake lenses for 2x sensor are easier to produce….
Simon
2 years ago |m43 IS 2x
Mark
2 years ago |I have both NEX and GF1, it was great fun to use GF1 with its 20mm F1.7 pancake lens. I wish sony can make one similar..
Carl
2 years ago |I don’t care at all about the camera, but that summilux looks delicious.
Steve
2 years ago |As far as size goes, in my opinion it needs to be comfortable in your hand, just like a computer keyboard and at some point small can be too small, and this is different for each person.
Personally for all day shooting I want something to wrap my hands around and again, just like size, each photographer has a different button and menu layout that feels natural.
For me……………the A850/A900 or other full-frame platforms like Nikon and Canon, feel natural and allows me to concentrate on the image before me and not think about the camera at all.
And even with a big DSLR cameras like my A850, attaching a lens like a Zeiss 24-70 f2.8 or my wonderful CZ 135 f1.8 the lens completely over-powers the body making it awkward on a neck strap or even on a sling like a BlackRapid , so I can’t imagine attaching a NEX to one of these lenses like I hear other Alpha shooters do.
I guess it depends on how seriously you take your photography, how many hours a day you hold your camera and maybe just why you take pictures. This NEX platform is perfect for many applications requiring small size and weight, and under-water photography; WOW!
I wish I could swim better.
I’M still on the fence on purchasing a NEX, and plan on holding off to see the NEX-7 and if it was to be a little bigger than the current products, for me that might just be a plus.
dyna
2 years ago |Panasonic had to release the GF3. The GF2, at least in our market, was a total flop. Terrible jpeg output, only marginal RAW. The touch screen interface is mediocre and just tends to get in its own way at best. I certainly hope the GF3 is an improvement. I do like the color LOL.
As for the lenses, well, Panasonic has had 3 years to create a lens selection. Sony hasn’t had 1 yet. Be cool.
acolyte
2 years ago |GF1 had a good response I heard. Did GF2 not get an equally good response? (Didn’t follow any news there)
Mark
2 years ago |I remember reading the GF1 review on dpreview.com, the editor took over 3000 shots in a day with the GF1, he mention it was great fun with this camera. I had experience when I used GF1 during my Japan trip. For some reason I dont get this feeling when I use NEX, may be its lack of quality on its pancake lens. As for GF2, it wasnt a big hit as the GF1, hence why they release the GF3 this quickly.
dyna
2 years ago |I can’t speak for other stores but it doesn’t take a ton of research to find that the GF2′s reception in our area wasn’t much different from it’s reception nationally. It’s obviously an unfinished product, a la Canon’s incessant need to re-release the same repackaged camera again and again until they get it right… only to replace it with the first generation version of their NEXT repack.
It was a great concept, the GF2. Just unrefined.
Another thought: Who else have you seen aside from Sony who do firmware updates that not only patch known issues but actually ADD features and value to your purchase?
That’s unheard of. And massive points to Sony for doing it.
Personally, I think Sony’s learned a lot. And that they keep on learning. No question: they have a lot to learn
Steve
2 years ago |It’s nice to hear comments about a non-Sony product from someone who has some insight about it. And it’s also nice to be reminded that lenses take time form other manufactures besides Sony
None of this stuff is perfect!
Jordi LM
2 years ago |The Sony 16mm 2.8 its x1.5= 24mm. The lumix 14mm 2.5 its 28mm… Its more wide the Sony and just one step less. The Nex users need new lenses, primes specially and the CZ… Please!!!…
räven
2 years ago |Actually, if I’m not mistaken its only a third of a stop faster.
HD10
2 years ago |GF1 GF2 GF3 … all had the same underwhelming sensor. So despite whatever alterations Panasonic makes to these cameras, it would still fall short of what its competitors can provide. The one Panasonic camera worth considering is the GH2 with its EVF, acceptably good sensor, and excellent video.
Sony has great sensors on its NEX cameras and these will get better still. The lack of an EVF and sufficient lenses for the NEX however cripples it so the best choice for Sony users would still be the Sony SLT bodies with its expanding choices of lenses.