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Panasonic FP2 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
17
Overall
28
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Panasonic FP2 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Panasonic FP2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 151g - 99 x 59 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2010
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Updated by Sony NEX-C3
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Panasonic FP2 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic FP2 versus Sony NEX-3, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FP2 (14MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is relatively close but the FP2 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

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The FP2 was released 5 months earlier than the NEX-3 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FP2 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the FP2 matches up versus the NEX-3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP2 over the Sony NEX-3

 FP2 NEX-3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Panasonic FP2

 NEX-3 FP2 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP2 and Sony NEX-3

 FP2 NEX-3 
AnnouncedJanuary 2010June 2010Same generation
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FP2 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FP2 has physical 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) and the Sony NEX-3 has proportions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FP2 versus Sony NEX-3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the FP2 compared to the NEX-3.

Panasonic FP2 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FP2 and NEX-3 is 95 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic FP2 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP2 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to picture the contrast in sensor measurements only by viewing a spec sheet. The visual here might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the FP2 and NEX-3.

Clearly, both cameras feature the identical megapixel count albeit different sensor measurements. The FP2 has the smaller sensor which is going to make achieving shallower depth of field trickier.

Panasonic FP2 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP2 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP2 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FP2
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
28
decent MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
72
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP2 Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Street photography highlights
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than competitors in class (151g)
76
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP2 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography highlights
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
slow frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
52
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP2 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography advice
56
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (151g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
59
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FP2
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3
32
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
68
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FP2
Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone port
more heavy than competitors in class (151 grams)
27
provides face detection autofocus
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone support
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Panasonic FP2 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP2 and Sony NEX-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2010-01-06 2010-06-07
Physical type Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IV Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 10cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.90 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 151 gr (0.33 pounds) 297 gr (0.65 pounds)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 68
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 830
Other
Battery life - 330 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch cost $80 $0