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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Revealed April 2009
Sony NEX-C3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
  • Announced August 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-3
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-F3
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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Panasonic FS12 versus Sony NEX-C3, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the FS12 (12MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) and the FS12 (1/2.3") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The FS12 was brought out 3 years prior to the NEX-C3 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the FS12 scores vs the NEX-C3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Sony NEX-C3

 FS12 NEX-C3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Panasonic FS12

 NEX-C3 FS12 
AnnouncedAugust 2011April 2009Fresher by 28 months
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS12 and Sony NEX-C3

 FS12 NEX-C3 
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS12 offers outer measurements of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Sony NEX-C3 has measurements of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FS12 versus Sony NEX-C3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select during that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the FS12 versus the NEX-C3.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FS12 and NEX-C3 is 95 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizing purely by going through specs. The visual here should give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the FS12 and NEX-C3.

All in all, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FS12 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony NEX-C3 will produce more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older FS12 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography advice
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography advice
21
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
73
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography highlights
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
79
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (225 grams)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography highlights
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
53
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great battery power (400 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography info
51
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
71
great battery power (400 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (225g)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Landscape photography camera
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
70
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (400 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Vlogging features
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging features
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have mic socket
27
lighter than competition in class (225 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone support
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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS12 and Sony NEX-C3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-04-17 2011-08-22
Physical type Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - 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 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 31-124mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m no built-in flash
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
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
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 129g (0.28 lbs) 225g (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 1083
Other
Battery life - 400 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $228 $343