Panasonic ZS200 vs Sony NEX-3

Below is a extensive review of the Panasonic ZS200 vs Sony NEX-3, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the ZS200 (20MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the ZS200 (1") and NEX-3 (APS-C) possess different sensor size.

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The ZS200 was launched 7 years later than the NEX-3 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS200 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the ZS200 grades vs the NEX-3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200 and Sony Alpha NEX-3. The complete galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZS200 Gallery and Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS200 enjoys outer dimensions of 111mm x 66mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.8") having a weight of 340 grams (0.75 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has sizing of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZS200 vs Sony NEX-3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the ZS200 against the NEX-3.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS200 and NEX-3 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Typically, it can be hard to visualize the gap in sensor measurements purely by going through technical specs. The graphic underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS200 and NEX-3.

As you can tell, both cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The ZS200 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Panasonic ZS200 will produce more detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots far more aggressively. The fresher ZS200 should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.