Panasonic 3D1 vs Sony NEX-C3

The following is a in depth overview of the Panasonic 3D1 versus Sony NEX-C3, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a big gap between the resolutions of the 3D1 (12MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) and the 3D1 (1/2.3") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The 3D1 was announced 3 months after the NEX-C3 which means that they are of a similar generation. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic 3D1 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the 3D1 scores against the NEX-C3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 and Sony Alpha NEX-C3. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic 3D1 Gallery and Sony NEX-C3 Gallery.

When you are planning to travel with your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic 3D1 has got exterior dimensions of 108mm x 58mm x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-C3 has sizing of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic 3D1 versus Sony NEX-C3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the 3D1 vs the NEX-C3.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 3D1 and NEX-C3 is 93 and 91 respectively.

Sometimes, it is tough to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reading specifications. The pic underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the 3D1 and NEX-C3.

To sum up, both the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The 3D1 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony NEX-C3 will offer you greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively.