Panasonic G7 vs Sony A6300

Introduction

Sometimes people don’t want to spend a whole fortune on a camera, so it’s pretty normal for people who are just starting out or for those that just want a second camera to go with, they choose a mirrorless camera instead of a DSLR.

But that’s not the only reason why mirrorless cameras have grown in the market, it’s also because manufacturers have been implementing them with the latest technologies, top-notch specs and premium features into one reasonably priced package.

The difference between a mirrorless camera and a DSLR camera is pretty obvious, while if you search what DSLR means, you’re going to notice that a DSLR is a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera, which means it uses a mirror and it came first in line, while mirrorless cameras came second, and just as the name suggests they don’t use a reflective mirror.

In this article today, I’m making a comparison review about two similarly priced mirrorless cameras, whereas both of them also share similar specs, but we’re still about to find out later in this review which one outperforms the other, and which camera would be more ideal for you.

As it is always mandatory to do so, make sure you know exactly what features are you after for, that’s what’s really going to help you decide which camera meets your requirements the most. It’s a popular belief that mirrorless cameras are mainly oriented toward videographers, and in most cases it’s true, but it’s not with every mirrorless camera since most of them also are great for photography. Okay, let’s get more into details now and see what else is there to talk about a mirrorless camera.

Head To Head Comparison

Panasonic G7

This is not the most compact mirrorless camera that you’ve probably seen, it comes with a rather angular design which brings the hint of a retro DSLR flavor. It looks good and it’s pretty eye-catching, and for most people, at first sight, they’re likely to confuse this mirrorless camera with a DSLR one, and what’s really appealing is the pentaprism-style mound on top of the camera which holds the viewfinder. But as we mentioned, it’s an OLED screen and not an actual viewfinder mirror so pretty much, it’s there only for show but it looks good to the eye nonetheless.

However, when it comes to handling, this particular camera is a true killer featuring a curved handgrip that ensures the camera feels secure, and fits the hand nicely while the rubberized grip snakes that can be found from front to back will provide friction, but to my eyes, they also give a great look to the overall appearance of the camera.

Although the camera’s body is mostly plastic it still has the expensive-feeling on it, while it features a total of 16 buttons, 4 dials, and two stitches, and all of the buttons are well-placed and well-thought-out for easy access.

To continue, the Panasonic G7 has a 3-inch display that boasts a folding design but only from a side hinge, nonetheless, this is one of the most in-vogue features for videographers, while it helps for both video shooting and selfies from different angles. In addition, the 1040k-dot resolution delivers accurate previews with plenty of colors and sharp details, and for more convenience, it performs great even in outdoor light. Also, it’s important to note that the screen is touch-enabled, so there’s that.

What’s really appealing is the viewfinder which features 2.36-million dots that uses an eye-sensor as well which transfers the preview display over from the rear screen directly to the electronic viewfinder, of course, if this is needed.

To start with the specifics, first, the Panasonic G7 features a 16-megapixel sensor that boasts a next-generation image-processor for enhanced performance, while it has a micro-four-thirds lens mount.

Due to the refined sensor, the Panasonic G7 it’s a great ISO performer, which allows the camera to deliver noise-free images even at extreme ISOs, and to be exact, ISO ranges from 160, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, and 25600.

Furthermore, the autofocus system is something that really needs attention, while this camera has a 49-point AF with the contrast-detect sensor, multi-area focus, selective single-point, tracking, single, continuous AF, touch, face detection, and live view AF. So as you can see, you’ll be well equipped with everything indeed.

Hence, the camera has a continuous shooting speed of 7-frames per second, and in my opinion, it’s pretty impressive especially for a camera of this price range.

Anyhow, we haven’t really reached the area where this camera performs the better, videography. Apart from being able to record at full HD 1920 x 1080p (60, 50, 30, 25fps), the Panasonic G7 also has 4K recording, which means you can do video capture at 3840 x 2160 (30, 25, 24, 20fps) while doing it in MPEG-4, AVCHD file formats. Let’s not forget to mention that there is also a stereo microphone available, so for those serious videographers, you basically have everything you’d ever need.

Connection-wise, there is a USB 2.0 port that performs at 480 Mbit/sec, a microHDMI typeD port, a microphone port, and a built-in Wi-Fi which will allow you to instantly share or transfer your images with compatible smartphone devices or tablets.

Overall, the Panasonic G7 is a reliable mirrorless camera that checks all the boxes whether it is in terms of features, specs, aesthetics or performance, you’re going to enjoy using this camera.

If you decide to go with this camera, you can get the best lens for the Panasonic G7. 

Panasonic Lumix G7 Sample Images:

Similar Comparison: Panasonic Lumix G7 vs Sony A6000

Sony A6300

If you are a long-time follower, then you probably know that I have made reviews about this camera 4 to 5 times, but for this article, I saw it fit to compare it with the Panasonic G7, and since many people find it confusing which camera is the best, you’ll about to find out today.

The Sony a6300 is a well-known and highly-rated mirrorless tool in the camera industry, while it can accommodate photographers and videographers of different levels, starting from novice to professionals who wish a second camera to go with.

In terms of the design, this one boasts the traditional mirrorless camera look, with a rather compact shape and light construction which makes it preferable for travelers and vloggers.

The body is made of magnesium alloy, while the handgrip is not as deep as you would find it in a DSLR camera, though it’s not as comfortable to hold it’s still good, and this is only my personal opinion which doesn’t have to affect your decision and thoughts about this camera. The button layout is also different from a DSLR, and a lot different from the Panasonic G7, but nonetheless, everything is well balanced for easy reachability and well-spaced in-between which means you’re unlikely to press a button by accident.

To continue, the Sony a6300 has a 3-inch tilting 921k dot LCD screen which delivers a decent amount of detail, but it’s not as good as the G7’s screen in outdoor light, sometimes it’s hard to see the preview. Although, what’s really disappointing is that the screen is not touch-enabled, while for some users that are used to having that feature this may be a real concern, but if you’re someone who is just starting out, then you won’t really have a problem with it. Of course, having touchscreen capabilities can really ease and enhance your overall user experience, but sadly the a6300 failed to do so.

Before we jump to performance, it’s important to note that the a6300 has a 2.36M-dot OLED viewfinder that has a 120-frames per second refresh option.

Now, the Sony a6300 features a 24-megapixel sensor that delivers a stunning image quality with plenty of details, sharp, and vibrant visuals. As it is armed with the Bionz X image processor, you’ll also have a fast performance with enhanced functionalities, while if you combine all of these specs into one piece, you’ll get a continuous shooting speed of 11-frames per second which is a lot more than most other DSLRs at this price range and some of the above, and if you compare it to the G7’s 7fps, the a6300 definitely outmatches it.

In terms of ISO performance, this particular camera has a native ISO sensitivity that ranges from 100-25,600, and a boosted ISO of up to 51,200.

When it comes to the autofocus, this is also an area where the a6300 outperforms the G7, featuring a 425-point phase-detect AF system, this camera ranks among the most high-end DSLRs and other mirrorless cameras on the market.

But that’s not all, to back this up, there’s an additional Eye-AF feature available which enriches the autofocus performance by tracking the subject with ease, locking on it and maintaining focus even if the subject is moving. Thus, this means that the a6300 is great for portrait photography, sports, wildlife, events, action, and videography above all.

Since we mentioned videography, the a6300 is able to record at Full HD at 1080p, while it’s also able to record at 4K 3840 x 2160 video resolution, which for those serious videographers, this is one of the most in-vogue essential features to have.

In terms of connectivity, the same as with the G7, the a6300 consists of a built-in Wi-Fi, NFC, and QR. Thus, you’ll be able to instantly share and transfer all your images and work by simply connecting with a compatible smartphone or tablet.

Even though the a6300 was released years ago, even today, it remains one of the most well-rounded mirrorless cameras on the market, which is also why I recommend it to everyone seeking for a feature-rich camera that performs great on both, photography and videography.

Sony A6300 Sample Images:

Similar Comparison: Panasonic Lumix GX85 vs Sony A6000

Panasonic G7 vs Sony A6300 Feature Comparison

	Panasonic G7	Sony A6300
Camera Type	Mirrorless	Mirrorless
Megapixels	16.0	24.2
ISO Range	160-25,600	100-25,600(51,200)
Flip-Out Screen	Yes	Yes
AF Points	49 AF Points	425 AF Points
Viewfinder	Yes	Yes
Touchscreen	Yes	No
Video Recording	Yes	Yes
Sensor Size	Four Thirds CMOS	CMOS

Similar Comparison: Panasonic GH4 vs Sony A7S

Conclusion

As you can see, even though these cameras both come at a similar price range, they differ greatly from one another, however, they’re both great at what they do.

Starting with the Panasonic G7, this camera is mainly oriented towards videographers who seek 4K, however, it’s also great that it has a touch-enabled LCD which holds an advantage over the a6300.

On the other hand, the a6300 is the most well-rounded mirrorless camera that you can find, it’s great not only for videography, but it’s also great for still photography, landscape, portrait photography, and so on. Due to the 24.2-megapixel sensor, and the 425-point AF system, for this article I would say that the Sony A6300 is better than the Panasonic G7 in many ways, but at the end, of course, the decision is still yours, and this is only my personal opinion from what I see.

Moreover, as we got the comparison table out of the way, by now I believe you have enough facts and arguments to support your decision, whether you should go for the Panasonic G7 or for the Sony A6300. If you want a mirrorless camera that feels more like a DSLR, then the G7 would be your ideal choice, and it’s a great camera to go with you won’t regret your decision if you do so.

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