Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-3

Below, we will be evaluating the Panasonic FH8 and Sony NEX-3, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FH8 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is pretty similar but the FH8 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor size.

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The FH8 was revealed 20 months later than the NEX-3 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the FH8 grades versus the NEX-3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 & Sony Alpha NEX-3. The full galleries are available at Panasonic FH8 Gallery & Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

For those who are looking to carry your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FH8 has physical dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

See the Panasonic FH8 and Sony NEX-3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the FH8 versus the NEX-3.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FH8 and NEX-3 is 96 and 89 respectively.

Normally, it is very tough to picture the gap between sensor sizing merely by reviewing technical specs. The photograph below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the FH8 and NEX-3.

As you can tell, both cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FH8 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic FH8 will offer greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots much more aggressively. The more modern FH8 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.