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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
25
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Panasonic FP3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 99 x 59 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2010
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Introduced October 2011
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-5
  • New Model is Sony NEX-5R
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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

The following is a thorough overview of the Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5N, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FP3 (14MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is pretty well matched but the FP3 (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FP3 was released 21 months earlier than the NEX-5N which makes them a generation away from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick overview of how the FP3 grades versus the NEX-5N when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP3 over the Sony NEX-5N

 FP3 NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Panasonic FP3

 NEX-5N FP3 
IntroducedOctober 2011January 2010Newer by 21 months
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP3 and Sony NEX-5N

 FP3 NEX-5N 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic FP3 features external dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5N in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at that moment. The following is a front view size comparison of the FP3 against the NEX-5N.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the FP3 and NEX-5N is 95 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by checking specs. The pic below will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FP3 and NEX-5N.

All in all, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The FP3 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony NEX-5N will give you greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged FP3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Portrait photography advice
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography advice
28
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
73
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FP3
Street photography with Sony NEX-5N
60
image stabilization (Optical)
has touch to focus
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
heavier than average (155 grams)
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
provides touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Sports photography camera
34
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
58
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good battery power (460 shots)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Travel photography information
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography information
60
has touch to focus
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (155 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
70
good battery power (460 CIPA)
provides touch to focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography highlights
37
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
71
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (460 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Vlogging information
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging information
27
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic support
heavier than average (155g)
33
built-in touchscreen
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone support
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Panasonic FP3 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP3 and Sony NEX-5N
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Type Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2010-01-06 2011-10-03
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 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 10cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
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), 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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 155 grams (0.34 lbs) 269 grams (0.59 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 77
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1079
Other
Battery life - 460 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $182 $550