Panasonic FP1 vs Sony NEX-3N

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Panasonic FP1 vs Sony NEX-3N, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the FP1 (12MP) and NEX-3N (16MP) and the FP1 (1/2.3") and NEX-3N (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The FP1 was revealed 4 years prior to the NEX-3N which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FP1 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the FP1 grades versus the NEX-3N with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP1 and Sony Alpha NEX-3N. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic FP1 Gallery and Sony NEX-3N Gallery.

If you are intending to carry around your camera, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FP1 provides exterior dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") along with a weight of 151 grams (0.33 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).

Examine the Panasonic FP1 vs Sony NEX-3N in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the FP1 against the NEX-3N.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the FP1 and NEX-3N is 95 and 89 respectively.

Usually, it's tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes purely by looking through specs. The picture underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the FP1 and NEX-3N.

All in all, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FP1 having a smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony NEX-3N will provide you with extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged FP1 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.