Panasonic FP3 vs Sony a3500

In this article, we are analyzing the Panasonic FP3 and Sony a3500, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the FP3 (14MP) and a3500 (20MP) and the FP3 (1/2.3") and a3500 (APS-C) feature different sensor dimensions.

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The FP3 was unveiled 5 years prior to the a3500 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the FP3 matches up versus the a3500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 and Sony Alpha a3500. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic FP3 Gallery and Sony a3500 Gallery.

In case you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FP3 features external dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") and a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Sony a3500 has measurements of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FP3 and Sony a3500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the FP3 and the a3500.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FP3 and a3500 is 95 and 69 respectively.

More often than not, its hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizes just by researching a spec sheet. The pic here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FP3 and a3500.

As you can see, both cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FP3 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony a3500 will provide you with more detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged FP3 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.