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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
25
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Panasonic FP3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 99 x 59 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2010
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5N
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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Let's look closer at the Panasonic FP3 versus Sony NEX-5, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FP3 (14MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the FP3 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The FP3 was revealed 5 months prior to the NEX-5 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summary of how the FP3 matches up versus the NEX-5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP3 over the Sony NEX-5

 FP3 NEX-5 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Panasonic FP3

 NEX-5 FP3 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP3 and Sony NEX-5

 FP3 NEX-5 
RevealedJanuary 2010June 2010Similar generation
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic FP3 has got physical measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") and a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FP3 versus Sony NEX-5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the FP3 against the NEX-5.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the FP3 and NEX-5 is 95 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the FP3 and NEX-5.

As you can see, both cameras provide the same resolution albeit different sensor sizing. The FP3 uses the tinier sensor which will make getting bokeh more difficult.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Portrait photography camera
28
good MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
72
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP3 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch to focus
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than others (155g)
76
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FP3
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
52
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography highlights
60
includes touch to focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than others (155g)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
59
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Landscape photography camera
37
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
68
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Vlogging features
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging features
27
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than others (155 grams)
28
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
missing mic socket
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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP3 and Sony NEX-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Type Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2010-01-06 2010-06-07
Physical type Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine IV 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 14MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 10cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.90 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 155 grams (0.34 lbs) 287 grams (0.63 lbs)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 69
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 796
Other
Battery life - 330 photographs
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch cost $182 $599