Panasonic FS12 vs Sony NEX-6

On this page, we will be looking at the Panasonic FS12 and Sony NEX-6, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the FS12 (12MP) and NEX-6 (16MP) and the FS12 (1/2.3") and NEX-6 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The FS12 was manufactured 4 years before the NEX-6 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a simple summary of how the FS12 scores against the NEX-6 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 & Sony Alpha NEX-6. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic FS12 Gallery & Sony NEX-6 Gallery.

For those who are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS12 provides exterior dimensions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Sony NEX-6 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FS12 and Sony NEX-6 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose during that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the FS12 versus the NEX-6.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS12 and NEX-6 is 95 and 85 respectively.

Normally, it can be difficult to see the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading specs. The pic underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS12 and NEX-6.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The FS12 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony NEX-6 will deliver greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged FS12 is going to be behind in sensor tech.