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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
Sony NEX-C3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-3
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-F3
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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-C3, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the FS15 (12MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) and the FS15 (1/2.3") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FS15 was launched 3 years earlier than the NEX-C3 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a brief summary of how the FS15 grades vs the NEX-C3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Sony NEX-C3

 FS15 NEX-C3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Panasonic FS15

 NEX-C3 FS15 
RevealedAugust 2011January 2009Newer by 31 months
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS15 and Sony NEX-C3

 FS15 NEX-C3 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS15 enjoys exterior dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") and a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Sony NEX-C3 has measurements of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-C3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the FS15 and the NEX-C3.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FS15 and NEX-C3 is 95 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions merely by looking through specs. The image here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS15 and NEX-C3.

All in all, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The FS15 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony NEX-C3 will result in greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged FS15 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS15
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-C3
20
manual focus not available
no manual mode
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
73
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Street photography information
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography information
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
79
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than others (225g)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS15 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Sports photography camera
25
image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
53
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good battery life (400 per charge)
max frames per second low (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Travel photography features
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography features
51
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (29mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
71
good battery life (400 per charge)
lighter than others (225 grams)
resolution is good (16MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FS15
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-C3
27
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (29mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
70
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (400 shots)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging advice
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (29mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external microphone support
27
lighter than others (225g)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS15 and Sony NEX-C3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2009-01-16 2011-08-22
Body design 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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 29-145mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 136g (0.30 lbs) 225g (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 images
Style of battery - 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 shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at release $180 $343