Clicky

Panasonic FX48 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
21
Overall
28
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
55
Overall
53

Panasonic FX48 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Panasonic FX48
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 150g - 95 x 53 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FX40
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-C3
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Panasonic FX48 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Panasonic FX48 vs Sony NEX-3, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FX48 (12MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the FX48 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizes.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The FX48 was launched 16 months prior to the NEX-3 making them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FX48 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the FX48 grades versus the NEX-3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

        

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX48 over the Sony NEX-3

 FX48 NEX-3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Panasonic FX48

 NEX-3 FX48 
ReleasedJune 2010January 2009Newer by 16 months
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX48 and Sony NEX-3

 FX48 NEX-3 
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Panasonic FX48 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FX48 features outer dimensions of 95mm x 53mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") along with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has proportions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FX48 vs Sony NEX-3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the FX48 compared to the NEX-3.

Panasonic FX48 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FX48 and NEX-3 is 95 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic FX48 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX48 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by going through technical specs. The image here might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FX48 and NEX-3.

As you have seen, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The FX48 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony NEX-3 will produce greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged FX48 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FX48 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX48 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX48 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography features
27
features face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
71
manual focus
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FX48
Street photography with Sony NEX-3
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
76
tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography info
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
51
megapixel count decent (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no image stabilization
no phase detect AF
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX48 Travel photography information
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography information
58
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
59
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX48 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Landscape photography camera
33
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
67
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FX48
Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
30
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have mic support
27
includes face detection focusing
does not feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic port
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FX48 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX48 and Sony NEX-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Also Known as Lumix DMC-FX40 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2009-01-27 2010-06-07
Body design Compact 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 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-125mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/3000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync 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
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 150 grams (0.33 lb) 297 grams (0.65 lb)
Physical dimensions 95 x 53 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $325 $0