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Panasonic F5 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
23
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Panasonic F5 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Panasonic F5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.2-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 97 x 58 x 22mm
  • Released January 2013
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
  • Announced June 2010
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-C3
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Panasonic F5 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Following is a thorough assessment of the Panasonic F5 vs Sony NEX-3, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the F5 (14MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is pretty similar but the F5 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The F5 was announced 2 years after the NEX-3 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic F5 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a short summation of how the F5 matches up against the NEX-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic F5 over the Sony NEX-3

 F5 NEX-3 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013June 2010More modern by 32 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Panasonic F5

 NEX-3 F5 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic F5 and Sony NEX-3

 F5 NEX-3 
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Panasonic F5 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic F5 offers physical measurements of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has proportions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic F5 vs Sony NEX-3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the F5 vs the NEX-3.

Panasonic F5 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the F5 and NEX-3 is 96 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic F5 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic F5 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes purely by reading a spec sheet. The pic underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the F5 and NEX-3.

As you can see, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizes. The F5 uses the tinier sensor which will make getting shallow DOF more difficult. The more modern F5 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic F5 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic F5 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic F5 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic F5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Portrait photography camera
29
MP count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
72
focusing manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic F5 Street photography info
Sony NEX-3 Street photography info
56
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
76
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic F5 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography features
33
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
52
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic F5
Travel photography with Sony NEX-3
68
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
59
good resolution (14MP)
no Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic F5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Landscape photography camera
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
MP count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
68
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3")
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic F5 Vlogging info
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging info
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic port
27
supports face detection focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
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Panasonic F5 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic F5 and Sony NEX-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2013-01-07 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.2-6.5 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.70 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 121 grams (0.27 lbs) 297 grams (0.65 lbs)
Dimensions 97 x 58 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 68
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.0
DXO Low light score not tested 830
Other
Battery life 250 pictures 330 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $100 $0