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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-7

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-7 front
Portability
84
Imaging
63
Features
71
Overall
66

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-7 Key Specs

Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2009
Sony NEX-7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Announced December 2011
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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-7 Overview

Below is a thorough comparison of the Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-7, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the FS15 (12MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the FS15 (1/2.3") and NEX-7 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FS15 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the NEX-7 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple summary of how the FS15 scores vs the NEX-7 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Sony NEX-7

 FS15 NEX-7 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Panasonic FS15

 NEX-7 FS15 
AnnouncedDecember 2011January 2009More recent by 35 months
Manually focus More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS15 and Sony NEX-7

 FS15 NEX-7 
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-7 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS15 has outer dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") along with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Sony NEX-7 has measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-7 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the FS15 vs the NEX-7.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-7 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the FS15 and NEX-7 is 95 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-7 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to visualise the difference in sensor measurements simply by seeing technical specs. The visual here should give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS15 and NEX-7.

As you can tell, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FS15 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony NEX-7 will show greater detail having an extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively. The older FS15 will be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS15
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-7
20
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
77
manual focus
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Street photography info
Sony NEX-7 Street photography info
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS15 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-7 as a Sports photography camera
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
61
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great battery life (430 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Travel photography factors
Sony NEX-7 Travel photography factors
51
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
70
great battery life (430 per charge)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-7 Landscape photography factors
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
72
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (430 shots)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FS15
Vlogging with Sony NEX-7
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have external microphone socket
35
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic support
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS15 and Sony NEX-7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15Sony Alpha NEX-7
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 Sony Alpha NEX-7
Type Ultracompact Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-01-16 2011-12-13
Physical type Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 1600 16000
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 29-145mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 136 gr (0.30 lb) 400 gr (0.88 lb)
Dimensions 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 81
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.4
DXO Low light score not tested 1016
Other
Battery life - 430 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch price $180 $699