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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2011
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FS18
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
  • Released June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-3, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FH5 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is relatively similar but the FH5 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) use different sensor sizes.

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The FH5 was revealed 8 months after the NEX-3 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a in depth comparison, below is a short overview of how the FH5 scores against the NEX-3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Sony NEX-3

 FH5 NEX-3 
ReleasedJanuary 2011June 2010More modern by 8 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Panasonic FH5

 NEX-3 FH5 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Sony NEX-3

 FH5 NEX-3 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FH5 comes with outer measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3 has proportions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the FH5 compared to the NEX-3.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FH5 and NEX-3 is 96 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes just by reading technical specs. The picture below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the FH5 and NEX-3.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FH5 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field trickier and the Panasonic FH5 will offer you more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The fresher FH5 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography factors
34
megapixel count decent (16MP)
supports face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
72
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FH5
Street photography with Sony NEX-3
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus via touch
lighter than others (121 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Sports photography camera
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
supports tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
52
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography advice
71
lighter than others (121 grams)
supports focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
59
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no Time Lapse function
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography factors
38
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
68
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FH5
Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
33
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
lighter than others (121g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone port
27
has face detection focus
does not offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic socket
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Sony NEX-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Also called as Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-01-05 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IV 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 area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.30 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 121 grams (0.27 lbs) 297 grams (0.65 lbs)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 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 260 photos 330 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $169 $0