Panasonic FH10 vs. Sony NEX-3N: A Hands-On Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

Choosing the right camera can feel a bit like navigating a maze: so many options, so many specs, and marketing claims that can blur the lines between what's genuinely useful and what's just noise. Today, I’ll break down two very different cameras from the early 2010s - the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH10 (FH10) and the Sony Alpha NEX-3N (NEX-3N) - to help you figure out how each performs in real-world scenarios and whether they might still be worth considering now or as legacy gear for specific photography needs.

I’ve spent hours testing both models through multiple photography disciplines - from portraits and landscapes to sports and video - to give you a comprehensive comparison rooted in genuine experience rather than just spec sheets.

The Basics: Form, Feel, and Handling

At first glance, the Panasonic FH10 and Sony NEX-3N couldn’t be more different. The FH10 is a small sensor compact (1/2.3” CCD sensor), designed as a lightweight, pocketable point-and-shoot, while the NEX-3N is an entry-level mirrorless camera with an APS-C CMOS sensor, offering interchangeable lenses and a more substantial body.

Size-wise, the FH10 weighs a mere 103 grams and measures 94x54x18 mm, making it extremely clutchable for casual walk-around use or travel when size and weight are at a premium. The Sony is bulkier at 269 grams and 110x62x35 mm, reminding you that you’re stepping up into more serious photographic territory. The extra heft is offset by better ergonomics, a deeper grip, and more pronounced buttons - important when you want quick control over settings in the heat of the moment.

This size and weight difference essentially frames their entire usage philosophy: the FH10 is about simplicity and compactness; the NEX-3N is about flexibility and quality.

Let’s take a closer look at the control layouts (see below), which illustrate this difference vividly.

On the FH10, the controls are minimal - no manual exposure dials, no dedicated buttons for ISO or aperture, just a few toggles for mode and flash. This simplicity is approachable for beginners, but quickly limiting for enthusiasts who want creative control.

The NEX-3N features more advanced control options, including manual exposure modes (shutter priority, aperture priority, full manual), a control dial, and a tilting 3-inch LCD to help with unique shooting angles.

Sensors and Image Quality: Small Sensor vs. APS-C

Here’s where we start seeing fundamental differences that impact every type of photography.

The Panasonic FH10’s 1/2.3” CCD sensor, measuring just 6.08 x 4.56 mm (around 27.7 mm²), pales in comparison to the Sony’s APS-C CMOS sensor at 23.5 x 15.6 mm (366.6 mm²) - more than 13 times larger in area.

Why does sensor size matter? Simply put, larger sensors generally have better light-gathering capabilities, improved dynamic range, better high ISO performance, and superior color depth. The Sony’s sensor resolution stands at 16 megapixels (4912 x 3264), marginally higher than Panasonic’s similar 16 MP (4608 x 3456), but it’s the sensor technology and size that really create image quality differences.

From my experience testing, the FH10 delivers usable daylight images with punchy colors but struggles significantly in low light, exhibiting noise and loss of detail past ISO 400. The JPEG images often feel over-processed, lacking subtlety, and there’s no RAW format support to salvage or adjust files extensively.

Conversely, the Sony NEX-3N’s CMOS sensor and Bionz processor deliver crisp, detailed images that retain fine texture and shadow detail even in challenging lighting conditions up to ISO 1600 and beyond. RAW support adds a layer of flexibility for post-processing - critical for enthusiasts and professionals aiming for the highest quality output.

Display and Interface: How You Connect with Your Camera

A camera’s LCD screen and user interface can dramatically affect your shooting experience, especially in the field.

The FH10 sports a 2.7-inch fixed 230k-dot TFT LCD - modest even by 2013 standards. The screen is adequate for framing and reviewing photos but lacks touch capability or the ability to tilt. The resolution and size limit detailed image checks, demanding a cautious approach when assessing focus accuracy or exposure in-camera.

Meanwhile, the NEX-3N offers a 3-inch tilting 460k-dot LCD. The extra size and pixel density provide a much clearer live view and playback experience. The tilt feature is particularly useful when shooting from low or awkward angles for landscapes, street photography, or creative compositions. Although it’s not a touchscreen, the quick manual controls compensate with direct exposure adjustment and focus point selection.

If you’re often on the move and heavily rely on your screen for image review and manual adjustments, the Sony’s interface outperforms Panasonic’s by a wide margin.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: When Every Millisecond Counts

Autofocus (AF) performance can define a camera’s suitability for action-oriented photography like wildlife, sports, or street.

The FH10’s AF system is basic contrast detection only, with continuous autofocus available but notably slow and prone to hunting in low light or low contrast scenes. Its single-shot autofocus speed is usable for casual snapshots but falls short for anything requiring fast acquisition or tracking moving subjects.

The NEX-3N has a more refined contrast-detection AF system with 25 focus points scattered across the frame, allowing for more precise selective focusing - key for portraits or macro. However, it lacks phase detection AF and does not offer animal or eye AF, limiting tracking prowess. Still, with a 4 frames per second continuous shooting rate, it performs much better in action scenarios than the FH10’s tepid 1 fps.

In practice, I found the Sony better suited for fleeting moments or dynamic compositions, although advanced sports or wildlife photographers will find its AF tracking insufficient compared to modern standards. For casual action or family photos, however, it’s a notable step up.

Portraits, Landscapes, Macro: Strengths and Limitations Across Genres

Portrait Photography

Portraits demand accurate skin tone reproduction, attractive bokeh, sharp eyes, and subtle background separation.

The FH10, with its fixed zoom lens ranging 26–130 mm equivalent and maximum aperture F2.8 to F6.9, offers some flexibility, but the small sensor and narrow aperture severely limit bokeh quality. Skin tones tend to be punchy but can look flat or overly processed. There’s no face or eye detection autofocus, so hunting for sharpness on eyes is manual and imprecise.

The NEX-3N’s large sensor and interchangeable lenses make it an instant upgrade for portraits - couple this with faster apertures available on various E-mount lenses (like 50mm f/1.8), and you get desirable background blur and better low-light subject isolation. The 25-point AF assists in locking onto faces/sharp zones more effectively even without dedicated eye AF. Skin tone reproduction is more natural and nuanced, particularly in RAW.

If portraiture excites you, the Sony NEX-3N is the clear favorite.

Landscape Photography

Landscape enthusiasts prioritize dynamic range, resolution, and weather resistance; sensor size again is pivotal.

The FH10’s sensor is not optimized for landscapes requiring wide tonal range - highlights often clip easily, shadows lose detail, and the fixed lens restricts wide-angle framing (26mm equivalent is borderline but okay for general scenes). No weather sealing means caution in adverse conditions.

Sony’s APS-C sensor gives smoother tonal transitions, more detail at base ISO, and cleaner files for post-processing. The NEX-3N’s tilting LCD encourages creative composition, and its support for various wide-angle E-mount lenses enhances versatility. Regrettably, like the FH10, it lacks weather-sealing.

Macro Photography

The FH10 boasts reasonably close focusing at 5 cm, which can yield enjoyable macro snaps with its optical stabilization helping steady shots handheld. Its smaller sensor limits overall image quality and depth of field control.

The Sony’s ability to use dedicated macro lenses gives it a substantial edge in magnification and focusing precision, though autofocus can hunt under extreme close-ups. With better image quality and manual focus assist tools, it's the stronger pick overall.

Video Recording: Beyond Still Images

Video capacity matters more than ever, so how do these two cameras stack up?

The Panasonic FH10 outputs 720p HD video at 30 fps using Motion JPEG codec - a fairly dated standard that leads to large files with less efficient compression. No manual video controls or external mic support limit usability for enthusiasts or vloggers.

The Sony NEX-3N, on the other hand, captures full HD 1080p video at up to 60i/30p frames using MPEG-4 and AVCHD formats, offering better compression and quality. It has no microphone port, nor headphone jack, restricting audio control, but its larger sensor produces better low-light video, background blur, and more cinematic depth.

Neither has in-body image stabilization, so lens-based optical stabilization or gimbals become necessary for smooth footage.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Considerations

Battery life on early mirrorless cameras can be weak due to reliance on electronic viewfinders or screens.

• Panasonic FH10 has a 260-shot battery rating - modest but expected for a compact
• Sony NEX-3N impresses with nearly 480 shots per charge, nearly doubling Panasonic, giving you longer shooting days

Both cameras accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but the Sony adds support for Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick format, offering flexibility but at the cost of potentially higher card prices.

[Overall Performance and Strengths Chart]

This expert scoring snapshot summarizes the cameras head-to-head over key performance metrics. The Sony NEX-3N outperforms overall comfortably in resolution, image quality, shooting speed, and versatility.

Specialized Use-Case Scores: Finding Your Perfect Match

Breaking down performance by photography disciplines clarifies that:

• Panasonic FH10 shines in casual, travel, and simple macro where portability and ease of use matter more than quality.
• Sony NEX-3N is considerably better for portraits, landscapes, sports, and video due to sensor size, manual controls, and lens ecosystem.
• Neither excels in wildlife photography or professional sports tracking by today’s standards.

Panasonic FH10 front Panasonic FH10 screen back Sony NEX 3N front Sony NEX 3N screen back

Real-World Image Gallery

Above, sample frames demonstrate the difference in rendering. Notice the Panasonic’s images lose fine details and dynamic range in shadow areas compared to the Sony’s crisper, more color-accurate exposures.

Lens Ecosystem and Expansion Potential

One cannot undersell the advantage of the NEX-3N’s Sony E-mount system. With over 120 lenses available at launch from Sony and third-party brands, users can select fast primes for portraits, telephotos for wildlife, wide-angle lenses for landscapes, and efficient macro options.

The Panasonic FH10, with a fixed zoom lens, limits creative framing and optical quality adjustments. While its lens covers a useful 26-130mm equivalent range, it cannot be upgraded or swapped.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

Both cameras lack contemporary wireless features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS - typical for their era but limiting if you want direct smartphone integration or geo-tagging.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers weather sealing or ruggedized build qualities, so both require care in challenging environments. The Panasonic’s compact and minimalistic body feels less robust than the Sony's more solid construction.

Is the Panasonic FH10 Relevant Today?

Considering its budget-friendly price point (around $110 new) and ultra-lightweight design, the FH10 remains an affordable alternative for simple documentation, family snapshots, and travel users uninterested in advanced photography.

However, the lack of RAW support, limited zoom aperture, and rudimentary controls confine it to casual usage or as a backup camera.

How Does the Sony NEX-3N Hold Up in 2024?

Now over a decade old, the NEX-3N still impresses given its APS-C sensor, full manual controls, RAW shooting, and lens versatility. It’s an excellent entry point for beginners looking to learn the fundamentals of interchangeable lens photography without breaking the bank.

The drawback is its dated AF performance and lack of newer mirrorless features like EVF, touchscreen, or in-body stabilization.

Final Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

Closing Thoughts: Legacy Cameras, Still Worth It?

After hours of side-by-side testing and real-world shooting, it’s clear these two cameras occupy very different niches. The Panasonic FH10 represents the most basic tier of compact cameras, perfect for effortless snapshots but not capable of fulfilling ambitions beyond that.

The Sony NEX-3N, although almost old enough to be considered vintage by modern mirrorless standards, remains a surprisingly capable and flexible tool for photography enthusiasts who don’t mind vintage quirks in exchange for APS-C image quality and lens adaptability.

If you’re buying used today, I’d recommend the Sony - especially if you want a camera that can grow with your skills, deliver better image quality, and serve multiple photographic disciplines. The Panasonic is best suited as an ultra-budget backup or a lightweight, simple travel companion.

The quick takeaway? The sensor size, lens flexibility, and shooting versatility on the NEX-3N translate into real, practical photographic gains, while the FH10’s convenience and low barrier to entry come at the cost of creative freedom and image quality.

I hope this detailed comparison has armed you with the right insights for your next gear decision. Should you have any questions or want recommendations for lenses and accessories that pair well with either camera, feel free to reach out - I’m always here to help.

Safe shooting!