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Panasonic LX100 II vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
81
Imaging
57
Features
75
Overall
64
Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Panasonic LX100 II vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Panasonic LX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 17MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-75mm (F1.7-2.8) lens
  • 392g - 115 x 66 x 64mm
  • Released August 2018
  • Replaced the Panasonic LX100
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Updated by Sony NEX-C3
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Panasonic LX100 II vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Panasonic LX100 II and Sony NEX-3, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the LX100 II (17MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the LX100 II (Four Thirds) and NEX-3 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The LX100 II was revealed 8 years later than the NEX-3 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic LX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the LX100 II matches up versus the NEX-3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LX100 II over the Sony NEX-3

 LX100 II NEX-3 
LaunchedAugust 2018June 2010More recent by 100 months
Screen resolution1240k920kClearer screen (+320k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Panasonic LX100 II

 NEX-3 LX100 II 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Panasonic LX100 II and Sony NEX-3

 LX100 II NEX-3 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic LX100 II vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic LX100 II comes with outer measurements of 115mm x 66mm x 64mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 2.5") and a weight of 392 grams (0.86 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has proportions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Check the Panasonic LX100 II and Sony NEX-3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the LX100 II against the NEX-3.

Panasonic LX100 II vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the LX100 II and NEX-3 is 81 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic LX100 II vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX100 II vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to visualize the difference between sensor measurements only by looking at technical specs. The photograph here will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the LX100 II and NEX-3.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The LX100 II with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Panasonic LX100 II will give greater detail because of its extra 3MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more recent LX100 II provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Panasonic LX100 II vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX100 II vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX100 II vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LX100 II Portrait photography advice
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography advice
74
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (17MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
supports RAW files
72
you can focus manually
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LX100 II Street photography information
Sony NEX-3 Street photography information
77
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has focus by touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX100 II Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography highlights
71
silent mode (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (17 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (340 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
52
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX100 II Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography advice
78
better than average battery pack (340 shots)
connects via bluetooth
has focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (17 megapixels)
pretty wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.7)
screen isn't selfie friendly
59
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX100 II Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography factors
76
manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.7)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (17 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (340 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
68
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic LX100 II
Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
36
pretty wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.7)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone port
27
has face detect focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic port
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Panasonic LX100 II vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX100 II and Sony NEX-3
 Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 IISony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II Sony Alpha NEX-3
Type Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2018-08-22 2010-06-07
Body design Large Sensor Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 17 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4736 x 3552 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 49 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-75mm (3.1x) -
Highest aperture f/1.7-2.8 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,240k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,760k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1800 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 11.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (with included external flash at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB DMW-BLE9 lithium-ion battery & USB charger USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 392 gr (0.86 lbs) 297 gr (0.65 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 66 x 64mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 2.5") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 68
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 830
Other
Battery life 340 shots 330 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $998 $0