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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
52
Overall
55

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs

Panasonic FH8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 123g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2012
Sony NEX-3N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 62 x 35mm
  • Revealed February 2013
  • Previous Model is Sony NEX-F3
  • Successor is Sony a5000
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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Panasonic FH8 versus Sony NEX-3N, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FH8 (16MP) and the NEX-3N (16MP) is relatively well matched but the FH8 (1/2.3") and NEX-3N (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

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The FH8 was launched 13 months before the NEX-3N which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the FH8 matches up vs the NEX-3N with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Sony NEX-3N

 FH8 NEX-3N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Panasonic FH8

 NEX-3N FH8 
RevealedFebruary 2013January 2012Newer by 13 months
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH8 and Sony NEX-3N

 FH8 NEX-3N 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FH8 offers external dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3N has proportions of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FH8 versus Sony NEX-3N in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the FH8 versus the NEX-3N.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the FH8 and NEX-3N is 96 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions only by reading through technical specs. The pic below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH8 and NEX-3N.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have the same resolution albeit different sensor dimensions. The FH8 features the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field more difficult. The more aged FH8 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Portrait photography camera
34
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
66
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-3N Street photography factors
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (123 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
77
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Sports photography camera
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
54
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (480 CIPA)
slow fps (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FH8
Travel photography with Sony NEX-3N
69
lighter than others (123 grams)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
71
better than average battery pack (480 per charge)
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Landscape photography camera
43
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
manual mode not available
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
70
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (480 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FH8
Vlogging with Sony NEX-3N
33
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
lighter than others (123 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic socket
28
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have microphone port
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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH8 and Sony NEX-3N
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8Sony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-01-09 2013-02-25
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 16000
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.5-6.4 -
Macro focus distance 4cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.60 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 123 gr (0.27 lbs) 269 gr (0.59 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 74
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.5
DXO Low light score not tested 1067
Other
Battery life 260 photos 480 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $149 $399