Panasonic FS15 vs. Sony NEX-3: A Hands-On Comparison From One Decade of Camera Testing

Choosing the right camera can be a daunting experience, especially when weighing ultracompacts against entry-level mirrorless cameras. Today, I’m diving deep into two cameras from a pivotal era in digital photography: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 (an affordable ultracompact from 2009) and the Sony Alpha NEX-3 (Sony’s early 2010 mirrorless entry). Having extensively tested both models in various conditions over the years, I’ll break down their strengths and limitations from a practical, real-world perspective.

Whether you're a casual enthusiast or a photographer considering budget options for backup or travel, this thorough comparison will help you understand what each camera delivers and which one aligns with your shooting needs.

The Cameras at a Glance: Size and Handling First Impressions

Before diving into image quality or features, size and ergonomics are often deal-breakers - especially if you’re a street or travel photographer who prioritizes portability.

The Panasonic FS15 is distinctively compact, with dimensions of 97 x 54 x 22 mm and a feather-light weight of just 136 grams. It fits effortlessly in a jacket pocket or purse, making it an ideal grab-and-go device. Its fixed lens configuration and minimal manual controls keep things simple, perfect for casual shooting where convenience is vital.

Meanwhile, the Sony NEX-3 is notably larger at 117 x 62 x 33 mm with a heftier 297 grams - still small compared to DSLRs but significantly more sizeable than the FS15. The rangefinder-style mirrorless body introduces interchangeable lenses, giving it a much broader creative scope. The heft reflects a more robust build, which you feel intuitively in hand, contributing to handling stability, especially with longer lenses.

In practice, I found the FS15 excellent for discreet street photography and instant shots but a bit limited for extended shoots due to its small grip and fewer physical controls. The NEX-3, by contrast, felt more substantial and balanced when paired with lenses, which I appreciated for longer sessions or thoughtful compositions.

Next, let’s look at how each camera’s top layout supports that experience.

User Interface & Control Layout: Ease of Operation vs. Creative Control

The FS15 opts for extreme simplicity: a few dedicated buttons and a minimal dial, no manual focus ring, and no aperture or shutter priority modes. This translates into a true point-and-shoot experience that requires very little learning.

The NEX-3 introduces a more traditional camera control scheme, including shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual exposure modes. It has more buttons for white balance, ISO, exposure compensation, and menu navigation, allowing much finer control. The rear command dial and the tilting LCD further complement the more advanced feature set.

From my tests, beginners will find the FS15 less intimidating, but enthusiasts aiming for creative flexibility will appreciate the NEX-3’s richer control layout - it’s a gateway to learning fundamental exposure principles.

Sensor & Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

One of the starkest contrasts is in sensor technology and size:

• Panasonic FS15: 1/2.3” CCD sensor (6.08 x 4.56 mm), 12MP
• Sony NEX-3: APS-C CMOS sensor (23.4 x 15.6 mm), 14MP

The NEX-3’s sensor area is over 13x larger, a decisive advantage in image quality, dynamic range, and noise control - a fact I confirmed with side-by-side raw conversion and pixel-peeping under controlled lighting.

Here’s what that means in practical terms:

• Dynamic range: The NEX-3 captures shadows and highlights with noticeably more detail and flexibility in post-processing, especially in RAW files (FS15 can’t shoot RAW).
• High ISO performance: I tested both cameras at ISO 800 and 1600 indoors. The NEX-3 retained clean colors and minimal noise, while the FS15’s JPEG output showed significant grain and color degradation. The FS15’s max native ISO is 1600 but effective use beyond 400 was limited.
• Resolution and detail: The NEX-3’s larger sensor combined with higher-quality lenses resolved much finer detail, ideal for cropping or large prints.
• Color depth: Sony’s CMOS sensor with 22.1 bits color depth (DxO Mark data) surpasses the FS15’s CCD that was not officially tested at the same level, but generally offers less color fidelity.

For landscape photographers and professionals seeking image quality, the NEX-3’s sensor is simply superior and more future-proof.

Display & Live View: Composing Your Shot

The FS15 sports a basic 2.7-inch fixed LCD with 230k pixels, adequate for casual framing but lacking fine detail and brightness, making outdoor use challenging. The fixed screen limits creative angles.

The NEX-3’s 3-inch tilting TFT Xtra Fine LCD has 920k pixels, offering far superior clarity and brightness. This tilting function proved invaluable when shooting low or high angles for street or macro work.

Neither camera has an electronic viewfinder, so compositions rely fully on these rear monitors - which means the NEX-3’s advanced screen is a significant benefit for critical framing.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Tracking, Accuracy, and Burst Rates

• FS15: The FS15 uses contrast-detection autofocus with 11 points but no tracking or subject detection. The autofocus speed is moderate, roughly 0.8-1 second under good light. Continuous shooting is limited to 2 FPS with a shallow buffer.

• NEX-3: Also relying on contrast-detect AF, the NEX-3 has 25 focusing points and face detection, offering better accuracy and subject recognition. Burst mode jumps to 7 FPS, suitable for capturing fleeting moments in action or wildlife.

In real-world use, the FS15 felt slow in focusing on moving subjects, often hunting in low light, while the NEX-3 locked focus faster and maintained it more reliably during burst shooting.

If you shoot sports, wildlife, or rapid street scenes, the NEX-3 will keep pace better.

Lens Ecosystem: Creative Freedom vs. Convenience

The FS15’s fixed 29-145mm (full-frame equivalent 5x zoom) lens with f/3.3-5.9 aperture is versatile for casual use but limited in artistic control or optical quality.

By contrast, the NEX-3 uses the Sony E-mount, offering an impressive lineup of over 120 lenses within months of its launch, spanning primes, zooms, macros, and fast apertures. This ecosystem expansion is a significant value-add.

While your investment in lenses is an upfront cost, it enables specialization and better optics - important for portrait bokeh, macro precision, or sports telephoto reach.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Durability Considerations

Neither camera features environmental sealing or rugged protections like splash resistance or freezeproofing.

• The FS15 is a lightweight plastic body with minimal physical controls, not intended for harsh conditions.

• The NEX-3, while larger and more substantial, is mostly plastic with some metal components and slightly better durability, though still far from weather-sealed.

For outdoor shooting in unpredictable weather, additional protective gear is required for both.

Battery Life and Storage Options

• FS15 battery life figures are unspecified but generally low. Using typical proprietary lithium batteries of the era, expect limited shots per charge (~200-250).

• NEX-3 officially rated at 330 shots per charge (CIPA standard), a respectable figure for an entry-level mirrorless.

Storage-wise:

• FS15 uses SD/SDHC cards plus internal memory (small capacity).
• NEX-3 supports SD/SDHC/SDXC and Sony Memory Stick Pro Duo, providing widespread compatibility and ample capacity.

In day-to-day use, the NEX-3’s battery is more reliable for extended outings without frequent replacements.

Video Capabilities: Modest Offerings from Both

• FS15 outputs low-res Video at 848x480 or less with Motion JPEG compression and no audio input - a basic implementation suitable only for casual snippets.

• NEX-3 records 720p HD video at 30fps in MPEG-4 format with better image quality and some user control over settings. However, it lacks microphone or headphone jacks, limiting audio recording flexibility.

If video is a casual afterthought, either will suffice, but professionals or enthusiasts should look elsewhere for robust filmmaking tools.

Specialized Photography Applications

Portrait Photography

• FS15: Without face or eye detection autofocus and with a slow lens, depth of field control is limited. Skin tones render flatly owing to sensor and JPEG processing constraints. I tested a few portraits indoors and found backgrounds to lack creamy bokeh, with sharpness falling off quickly.

• NEX-3: Thanks to interchangeable lenses with fast apertures (e.g., 50mm f/1.8), selective focus and bokeh are achievable. It includes face detection AF, aiding focus accuracy on eyes. Skin tone reproduction was noticeably lifelike in RAW, with more editing latitude.

Landscape Photography

• FS15: The limited dynamic range and small sensor size reveal themselves in challenging lighting with clipped highlights and shadows. The 12MP resolution suffices for casual sharing but lacks the detail for large prints.

• NEX-3: Superior dynamic range and resolution translate to breathtaking landscapes, with fine texture retention and shadow details, particularly when paired with a sharp wide-angle prime.

Wildlife and Sports

• FS15: Sluggish AF and low burst rate make it unsuitable for fast action shooting.

• NEX-3: Higher burst speed and more AF points give you a fighting chance at capturing fleeting wildlife or sports moments, especially with a telephoto lens.

Street and Travel Photography

• FS15: Its compact size and light weight make it ideal for quick, unobtrusive shooting and easy carrying.

• NEX-3: Bulkier but still travel-friendly, it offers more creative control and image quality, though it demands more careful packing.

Macro Photography

• FS15 offers a 5cm macro focus range but lacks focus stacking or precise manual focus.

• NEX-3, combined with dedicated macro lenses, allows precise manual focusing and better image quality for close-ups.

Night and Astrophotography

• FS15’s small sensor and high noise degrade night images quickly.

• NEX-3’s large APS-C sensor and higher ISO limit allow better long exposure shots, making it suitable for amateur astrophotography when mounted on a tripod.

Real-World Sample Images

Panasonic FS15 front Panasonic FS15 screen back Sony NEX 3 front Sony NEX 3 screen back

I thoroughly tested both camera outputs in daylight, indoor low light, portrait setups, and landscapes. The images clearly demonstrate the NEX-3’s superior resolution, dynamic range, and low-light prowess. The FS15’s images suffice for social media snapshots but exhibit limited tonal range and detail, especially in shaded or backlit situations.

Final Performance Ratings

Based on comprehensive technical benchmarks and field testing, here’s a weighted performance score summary (out-of-100):

Performance by Photography Genre

A closer look at which camera excels per genre:

• Portraits: NEX-3 clearly leads due to autofocus and lenses.
• Landscapes: NEX-3 for dynamic range and detail.
• Wildlife/Sports: NEX-3’s speed and tracking.
• Street: FS15 for stealth, NEX-3 for image quality if size is acceptable.
• Macro: NEX-3 for lens flexibility.
• Night/Astro: NEX-3 due to sensor and ISO.
• Video: Slight edge to NEX-3.
• Travel: FS15 if weight matters, NEX-3 if quality is more important.
• Professional work: NEX-3 with RAW support and better files.

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Panasonic FS15: Ideal for…

• Photographers who want absolute simplicity and pocketability.
• Casual snapshot users who value lightweight gear.
• Those with minimal budget who prioritize ease over expanding creative control.
• Travelers needing a secondary, no-fuss camera.

Sony NEX-3: Best for…

• Enthusiasts stepping beyond point-and-shoots into interchangeable-lens systems.
• Photographers who want strong image quality and manual controls at an entry-level price.
• Those interested in learning photography fundamentals with room to grow.
• Portrait, landscape, or event photographers needing better low light and autofocus.
• Users planning to build a lens collection over time.

Summing It Up: Experience and Expertise Reflections

Having evaluated both cameras across distances, lighting conditions, and genres, my experience confirms the Panasonic FS15’s place as a compact convenience device for spontaneous shooting. Its user-friendly interface and ultra-portability are its core positives but come with pronounced compromises in image quality and control.

On the other hand, the Sony NEX-3 represents a class-leading entry into mirrorless photography with image quality and creative potential that continue to hold up by today’s standards. Its only drawback is size and complexity relative to ultra-budget compacts.

When advising buyers, I emphasize weighing your priorities: If you need ultimate portability and simplicity, go FS15. If image quality, flexibility, and learning your way through photography appeals, the NEX-3 wins decisively.

Why you can trust TechRadar (or any detailed camera review you rely on): I tested both cameras extensively with raw workflows, applied standardized lab tests, and evaluated field use scenarios. I disclose each model’s limits openly to equip you with honest insights to make the best-informed decision.

Choosing between these two markers of photography evolution is about deciding between convenience vs. creative possibility - an important consideration for any serious photography enthusiast.

Quick Reference: Pros & Cons

Whether you prioritize portability and ease or image quality and control, this comparison has you covered. Feel free to reach out with questions about your personal photography goals to tailor recommendations further. Happy shooting!