Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony NEX-3

On this page, we are evaluating the Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony NEX-3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the ZS80 (20MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the ZS80 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS80 was unveiled 7 years later than the NEX-3 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS80 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the ZS80 grades versus the NEX-3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 and Sony Alpha NEX-3. The full galleries are available at Panasonic ZS80 Gallery and Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

When you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS80 enjoys outer measurements of 112mm x 69mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") and a weight of 327 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has specifications of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony NEX-3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the ZS80 and the NEX-3.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS80 and NEX-3 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Normally, its tough to imagine the gap in sensor measurements just by looking through specs. The photograph below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS80 and NEX-3.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The ZS80 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh tougher and the Panasonic ZS80 will provide you with more detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images more aggressively. The newer ZS80 provides a benefit in sensor technology.