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The Sony a6300 with the 16-50 retractable (e.g. pancake) lens cost $50US more than a Pany GX85 with the 12-32 pancake lens and is only 20g heavier. The size difference is also negligible. Overall performance, iso, focus, resolution, etc, definitely goes to the Sony. IMO, with the standard kit lens the Sony wins hands down. Beyond this things get a little fuzzier.

 

For a small easy to pocket/travel MFT kit I could add the Pany 35-100mm f/4.0-5.6 pancake lens and a 20/1.7 prime. While the zoom optics may not be great, this kit is appealing and the price is ~$450US less than a comparable Sony (55-210 and 35/1.8) kit.

 

The downside to the Sony kit is once you add a medium zoom. The Sony 55-210, their "kit" medium zoom kit lens, is twice as long retracted and 2.5x the weight. The same is true for the Sony 35/1.8, it's just shy of being twice as long and twice the weight. Albeit, it's still a small and light lens.

 

I keep feeling if Sony decides to come out with a retractable ~50-200mm lens for the alpha, it could put a last nail in the MFT coffin. At least for people looking at starter kits. Size becomes moot. Megapixels still means a lot to people and 24 vs 16 is significant. For reference, iPhone 7 has 12Mp and the iPhone 8 has 16Mp.

 

I'm not planning on getting rid of any of my Canon gear anytime soon. This MILC kit would just be supplemental. And yes, I've put a lot of thought into this, that's what I do! Mainly because once I jump in I will stick with it for many years.

 

Between the A6300 + 16-50 and the Pany GX85 + 12-32, the combo providing the best IQ is the Pany + 12-32. The Sony 16-50 lens is probably one of the worst lenses one can possibly buy; check the review here on PZ to get a reality check.

 

Sony might make great bodies, but their APS-C lens lineup is very weak compared to other mirrorless systems. Remember you're buying into a system, not only a body. Also ask yourself: do you really need 24MP? How big and often do you print? It's easier than ever to pixel peep, but also very misleading. This is not how we look at pictures.

 

I'd start by asking myself: what lenses do I need? And then I'd consider the system that suits me best based on how I'm going to use my gear and what I'm going to shoot.

 

Again, in terms of versatility/IQ/compactness, this MFT kit is very hard to beat:

• Panasonic GX80 or Olympus E-M10 Mk II
  
• Panasonic 12-32
  
• Panasonic 45-150
  
• Olympus 25 f1.8 (or Olympus 17 f1.8 if you like wider)
  

That covers your needs from 24 to 300mm (FF equiv) and gives you normal 50mm for low light situations and shallow DOF (f3.6 FF equiv).