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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Panasonic FP8
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 151g - 96 x 60 x 20mm
  • Revealed July 2009
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

The following is a detailed review of the Panasonic FP8 and Sony NEX-3, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FP8 (12MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is very well matched but the FP8 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

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The FP8 was manufactured 10 months before the NEX-3 and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FP8 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a complete comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the FP8 grades versus the NEX-3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP8 over the Sony NEX-3

 FP8 NEX-3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Panasonic FP8

 NEX-3 FP8 
ReleasedJune 2010July 2009Newer by 10 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP8 and Sony NEX-3

 FP8 NEX-3 
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FP8 has got outside measurements of 96mm x 60mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") 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") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FP8 and Sony NEX-3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the FP8 compared to the NEX-3.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FP8 and NEX-3 is 95 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reading through a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the FP8 and NEX-3.

Clearly, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FP8 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Sony NEX-3 will give extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged FP8 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP8 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography details
21
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
72
has manual focus
resolution is good (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Street photography highlights
55
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than average (151 grams)
76
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography features
24
image stabilization (Optical)
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300s)
slow fps (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
52
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography info
56
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than average (151 grams)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
59
resolution is good (14MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FP8
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3
32
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
68
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP8 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Vlogging camera
28
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than average (151g)
27
supports face detect focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic jack
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Panasonic FP8 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP8 and Sony NEX-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-07-27 2010-06-07
Body design Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine V 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 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-128mm (4.6x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1300 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.50 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 151g (0.33 pounds) 297g (0.65 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 60 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 68
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.0
DXO Low light score not tested 830
Other
Battery life - 330 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $300 $0