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Panasonic FS25 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Panasonic FS25 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Panasonic FS25
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 148g - 97 x 58 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2009
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FS25 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS25 over the Sony NEX-3

 FS25 NEX-3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Panasonic FS25

 NEX-3 FS25 
ReleasedJune 2010January 2009More recent by 16 months
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS25 and Sony NEX-3

 FS25 NEX-3 
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Panasonic FS25 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic FS25 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

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

Panasonic FS25 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS25 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

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.

Panasonic FS25 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS25 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS25 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS25 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography features
26
supports face detect focus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
72
has manual focus
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS25 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Street photography camera
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FS25
Sports photography with Sony NEX-3
25
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
52
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no image stabilization
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS25 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Travel photography camera
51
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
59
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS25 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Landscape photography camera
32
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
68
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FS25
Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
28
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have mic socket
27
comes with face detection focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone socket
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Panasonic FS25 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS25 and Sony NEX-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2009-01-27 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
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 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 29-145mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.30 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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 port
Headphone port
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 148 gr (0.33 lb) 297 gr (0.65 lb)
Physical dimensions 97 x 58 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 68
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.0
DXO Low light score not tested 830
Other
Battery life - 330 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $230 $0