Panasonic FS25 vs Sony NEX-3

Here, we will be evaluating the Panasonic FS25 versus Sony NEX-3, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FS25 (12MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the FS25 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The FS25 was manufactured 16 months before the NEX-3 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FS25 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the FS25 matches up versus the NEX-3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25 & Sony Alpha NEX-3. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic FS25 Gallery & Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS25 enjoys outer measurements of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 148 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3 has proportions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FS25 versus Sony NEX-3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the FS25 compared to the NEX-3.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the FS25 and NEX-3 is 95 and 89 respectively.

Generally, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor measurements simply by seeing specifications. The photograph below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the FS25 and NEX-3.

To sum up, each of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FS25 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony NEX-3 will produce greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older FS25 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.