Panasonic FH7 vs Sony NEX-3N

Comparing the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 and Sony Alpha NEX-3N: A Hands-On Analysis for the Informed Photographer

When navigating the vast landscape of cameras, two models often attract attention - though from rather different corners of the market - the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7, a truly compact small-sensor point-and-shoot, and the Sony Alpha NEX-3N, an entry-level mirrorless with an APS-C sensor. Both launched in the early 2010s but aimed at distinctly different photography approaches and user expectations.

Having spent extensive time testing and evaluating both cameras side by side, I’ll walk you through an in-depth comparison grounded in real-world use and technical performance. Along the way, I’ll share how these two stack up in key photography genres, usability, and value - helping you identify which camera best suits your style, budget, and ambitions.

Size and Handling: Compactness vs. Control

Right out of the gate, size and ergonomics paint a stark contrast. The Panasonic FH7 is a petite marvel, measuring just 95x56x19 mm and weighing a featherlike 126 grams. Its pocket-friendly design makes it unassuming and effortlessly portable - ideal for spontaneous street or travel photography when discretion and lightness matter most.

The Sony NEX-3N, meanwhile, is larger and chunkier at 110x62x35 mm and about 269 grams. This size owes to its mirrorless architecture and larger APS-C sensor, necessitating a heftier body and interchangeable lenses. Its heft translates to a more secure grip and comfortable manual handling, especially for photographers accustomed to ergonomic controls and physical dials. Though by no means bulky, it demands a dedicated camera bag or strap for transport - not something you toss casually into a pocket.

Ergonomically, the FH7 is stripped down and somewhat minimalistic - with touch-based controls on a small 3" screen, reflecting its point-and-shoot lineage. The NEX-3N catapults you into more traditional camerawork with tactile buttons, a tilting 3" LCD with higher resolution, and options for manual focus and exposure modes that empower a deliberate shooting approach.

Physical Interface and User Controls

The Panasonic looks neat and clean from the top with few buttons - optimized for simplicity. Its absence of manual exposure modes, focus rings, or hot shoes confirms a no-nonsense automation-first philosophy. There's no electronic viewfinder, relying solely on the fixed rear LCD.

The Sony, on the other hand, offers a distinctive rangefinder-style arrangement, visibly more button-rich, and with a tilting screen that helps for awkward-angle shooting. Its support for shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual exposure modes immediately sets it apart for photographers wanting deeper creative control. Though it lacks an electronic viewfinder, the quality and articulating nature of the LCD partially bridge that gap.

Sensor Considerations: Tiny CCD vs. Larger APS-C CMOS

One of the most fundamental differences between these cameras lies in sensor technology and size. The Panasonic FH7 is equipped with a modest 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring 6.08 x 4.56 mm with a resolution of 16 MP. In contrast, the Sony NEX-3N leverages a significantly larger APS-C CMOS sensor, 23.5 x 15.6 mm also sporting 16 MP resolution.

From a technical standpoint, a larger sensor has greater capacity for light gathering, yielding superior dynamic range, lower noise levels in dim conditions, and enhanced color depth. CMOS sensors, especially in APS-C size, have become standard for enthusiast and professional-grade cameras due to these advantages. The older CCD sensor sensors used in the FH7 have inherent noise and limited dynamic range despite being decent for bright daylight use.

In practical terms, this translates to visibly better image quality from the Sony NEX-3N, especially in indoor, low-light, and high-contrast scenarios. The Panasonic’s output is more posterized in shadow regions and tends to lose subtle tonal gradation in difficult scenes, a known limitation for small-sensor compact cameras of its era.

Lens and Zoom Range: Fixed Convenience vs. Interchangeable Flexibility

Lens design is another key comparison vector. The Panasonic FH7 features an integrated zoom lens covering a 28-112 mm equivalent focal range (4× zoom) with apertures ranging from f/3.1 at wide angle to f/6.5 telephoto. While this range offers some compositional versatility, the relatively slow aperture restricts low-light capability and the ability to produce subject isolation via shallow depth of field.

Conversely, the Sony NEX-3N utilizes the Sony E-mount system, boasting compatibility with over 120 native lenses, ranging from ultra-wide primes to telephoto zooms and specialized glass. This lens ecosystem is a decisive advantage - if you’re serious about portraiture, macro, wildlife, or any genre demanding tailored optics, the mirrorless system provides unmatched flexibility.

The larger sensor combined with fast prime lenses on the NEX-3N also creates much more pleasing bokeh and subject separation, something the Panasonic can’t replicate given its small sensor and slower fixed lens.

Display and Live View Operation

Both cameras sport 3-inch LCD screens, but the similarity ends there. The Panasonic’s fixed 230k-dot touchscreen offers basic framing assistance but limited resolution for sharp detail preview.

Meanwhile, the Sony’s higher-resolution tilt-display (460k dots) improves usability in bright conditions and facilitates creative shooting angles - a boon for landscape composition or street photography from waist or overhead height. The NEX-3N’s live view also supports manual focusing aids and exposure simulations, elevating hands-on control much further than the FH7’s simplified experience.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Basic vs. Responsive

Autofocus is a vital performance arena where the two cameras diverge considerably. The FH7 uses contrast-detection autofocus with 11 focus points, face detection, and basic tracking - adequate for casual snapshots but noticeably slower and less precise for moving subjects.

The NEX-3N also relies on contrast-detection autofocus but benefits from 25 focus points and better algorithms enabling quicker autofocus acquisition and improved accuracy. It supports continuous autofocus, aiding tracking in sports or wildlife scenarios.

Both cameras maintain a modest continuous shooting speed of 4 frames per second, which, while hardly groundbreaking, is sufficient for casual action sequences but not for serious sports or wildlife photography requiring faster burst rates.

Image Quality Deep Dive: Color, Noise, and Detail

Testing images from both cameras side-by-side in a mixed-lighting scenario reveals the Sony NEX-3N’s superiority in rendering rich color depth, sharp detail retention, and cleaner shadows. The FH7’s photos tend to revert to more compressed dynamic range, with noise becoming apparent around ISO 800 and above.

Panasonic FH7 front Panasonic FH7 screen back Sony NEX 3N front Sony NEX 3N screen back

The Panasonic fares reasonably well in bright daylight, producing saturated but sometimes slightly flat tones. Its optical image stabilization helps steady shots in normal handheld use, but the small sensor limits ISO sensitivity to a maximum of 6400, with 100 as base ISO.

The Sony’s sensor can push native ISO to 16,000, though practical usability peaks around 3200-6400 depending on image requirements. The higher color depth and broader dynamic range (as indicated by DXO data with 22.8-bit color depth and 12.5 EV DR) empower smoother tonal transitions - a compelling advantage for enthusiasts processing images on desktop.

Specialized Genre Performance Overview

Moving beyond specs, it helps to examine how these two cameras perform across popular photographic disciplines.

Portrait Photography

The Sony NEX-3N’s larger sensor and vast lens selection provide clear advantages in rendering natural skin tones and creamy bokeh. Eye detection autofocus isn’t supported but sufficient focus accuracy ensures acceptable sharpness. The Panasonic’s small sensor and slower fixed zoom limit background blur, producing flatter portraits with less subject separation.

Landscape Photography

Sony’s superior dynamic range captures highlight and shadow detail better, essential in landscape trips where scenes are contrast-heavy. The NEX-3N’s APS-C sensor and higher resolution (4912×3264) provide crisp prints and cropping flexibility. The Panasonic is handicapped in dynamic range and resolution, further constrained by its jello-prone compact body vulnerable to wind shake.

No weather sealing on either model adversely impacts outdoor reliability, meaning extra care outdoors is necessary.

Wildlife and Sports

Burst speed and autofocus tracking capabilities are middling on both. Neither is ideal for fast action, but the Sony’s continuous autofocus and flexibility with long telephoto lenses (E-mount compatible) make it more suitable for casual wildlife and sports snapshots. Panasonic’s fixed lens zoom lacks reach and the autofocus can miss fleeting moments.

Street Photography

Here, the Panasonic FH7 shines through its ultra-compact design, enabling discreet shooting in crowded environments. The FH7's quiet operation and simplicity make it unobtrusive. The Sony's larger size and tilting screen come at the cost of subtlety, but better low-light performance allows photos in dimly lit cafés or nighttime streets.

Macro Photography

Neither camera is a macro specialist. The FH7’s fixed lens has a 5cm minimum focus distance but cannot match the sharpness and working distance achievable with specialized E-mount macro lenses for the Sony. Manual focusing aids on the NEX-3N boost precision dramatically in close-up work.

Night and Astro Photography

The Sony’s sensor shines at higher ISOs, with cleaner noise performance and longer shutter capabilities (up to 30 seconds exposure), making it the better choice for astrophotography. The Panasonic’s max shutter speed of 1 second and high noise make it difficult to get usable night images.

Video Capabilities

The FH7 records HD video at 1280×720 @ 30fps in Motion JPEG format - adequate for casual sharing but limited in quality and codec efficiency.

The NEX-3N offers full HD 1920×1080 video in AVCHD and MPEG-4 - more suitable for serious video content creators despite lacking microphone input or stabilization. Neither camera supports 4K or advanced video features common in current models.

Build Quality, Reliability, and Durability

Neither the FH7 nor the NEX-3N feature weather sealing, dustproofing, or shockproofing, so both require cautious handling outdoors. The Panasonic, being a compact point-and-shoot, has a plastic construction and minimal controls that can limit durability over time.

The NEX-3N’s mirrorless build quality feels modest but more robust, with a metal lens mount and a slightly more reinforced chassis. Battery life favors the Sony as well, rated at 480 shots per charge versus Panasonic’s 260.

Connectivity and Storage

Both cameras rely on USB 2.0 for data transfer but lack WiFi, Bluetooth, or NFC wireless features - somewhat limiting in today’s always-connected world.

The FH7 uses SD/SDHC/SDXC cards internally while the NEX-3N supports SD and Memory Stick PRO Duo cards, reflecting Sony’s ecosystem versatility but adding a slight complexity for buyers unfamiliar with proprietary formats.

Price and Value Assessment

At launch pricing, the Panasonic FH7’s street price hovered around $150, making it an ultra-affordable, no-frills compact for casual shooters or budget-conscious buyers needing simple point-and-shoot functionality.

The Sony NEX-3N, priced close to $400, targeted entry-level enthusiasts who demanded image quality and control as an introduction to mirrorless systems.

Considering future-proofing and image quality needs, the Sony delivers significantly better long-term value, supporting lens upgrades, manual control, and superior image quality. Panasonic’s FH7 is best suited to those valuing pocketability and ease of use over creative flexibility or technical performance.

Wrapping Up: Choosing Your Ideal Camera

The Panasonic Lumix FH7 is a straightforward, lightweight compact camera that shines in casual snapshot and street photography scenarios where size, ease, and spontaneity are prioritized. Its limitations in sensor size, zoom speed, and controls reflect its point-and-shoot niche. It’s perfect if your emphasis is ultralight, budget-friendly convenience.

The Sony Alpha NEX-3N, by contrast, is a true step up toward serious photography with its APS-C sensor, interchangeable lenses, and manual exposure modes. It excels in portraiture, landscape, and low-light photography and offers a platform that grows with your skill. Though bulkier and pricier, it rewards the invested photographer with far superior image quality and creative latitude.

If your focus is basic travel photos or street candid snapshots with minimal fuss, the Panasonic FH7 will aptly serve you. If you dream of exploring varied photographic disciplines - portraits, macro, night, even some video - the Sony NEX-3N is a smarter investment that opens the door to a more fulfilling photographic journey.

Final Thoughts

Having worked with these cameras extensively, I recognize that each has its place. The Panasonic is a practical compact companion for casual use, whereas the Sony is a genuine entry-level mirrorless system that invites serious learning and growth. Your choice hinges on your photographic ambitions, budget, and how much manual control you desire.

Ultimately, deciding between these two cameras is less about which is “better” overall and more about which one aligns with your personal shooting style and future vision as a photographer.

I hope this analysis helps you weigh your options intelligently! If you have questions about specific photography scenarios or want recommendations on lenses for the Sony NEX-3N, just ask - happy to dive in deeper.