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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-F3

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-F3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
57
Features
60
Overall
58

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-F3 Key Specs

Panasonic FH8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 123g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2012
Sony NEX-F3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-C3
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-3N
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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-F3 Overview

Below, we are comparing the Panasonic FH8 versus Sony NEX-F3, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FH8 (16MP) and the NEX-F3 (16MP) is very well matched but the FH8 (1/2.3") and NEX-F3 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

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The FH8 was revealed 7 months prior to the NEX-F3 and they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-F3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the FH8 matches up versus the NEX-F3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Sony NEX-F3

 FH8 NEX-F3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Panasonic FH8

 NEX-F3 FH8 
RevealedAugust 2012January 2012More recent by 7 months
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH8 and Sony NEX-F3

 FH8 NEX-F3 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-F3 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic FH8 has outside dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-F3 has sizing of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FH8 versus Sony NEX-F3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the FH8 against the NEX-F3.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-F3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the FH8 and NEX-F3 is 96 and 86 respectively.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-F3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-F3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to envision the difference between sensor measurements just by checking technical specs. The photograph below should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the FH8 and NEX-F3.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got the exact same resolution but not the same sensor measurements. The FH8 provides the tinier sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow depth of field tougher. The older FH8 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-F3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FH8
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-F3
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
supports face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
74
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Street photography details
Sony NEX-F3 Street photography details
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (123 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-F3 Sports photography info
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
supports tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
53
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great battery power (470 CIPA)
max fps very slow (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-F3 Travel photography highlights
69
lighter than average (123g)
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
69
great battery power (470 CIPA)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FH8
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-F3
43
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
70
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
great battery power (470 shots)
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FH8
Vlogging with Sony NEX-F3
33
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
lighter than average (123 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic socket
27
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
lack of mic socket
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Panasonic FH8 vs Sony NEX-F3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH8 and Sony NEX-F3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8Sony Alpha NEX-F3
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 Sony Alpha NEX-F3
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2012-01-09 2012-08-16
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - 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 surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.5-6.4 -
Macro focus range 4cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 123g (0.27 lbs) 314g (0.69 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1114
Other
Battery life 260 photos 470 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $149 $470