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Panasonic LX3 vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
91
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
52
Overall
55

Panasonic LX3 vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs

Panasonic LX3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-60mm (F2.0-2.8) lens
  • 265g - 109 x 60 x 27mm
  • Introduced November 2008
  • Replacement is Panasonic LX5
Sony NEX-3N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 62 x 35mm
  • Revealed February 2013
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-F3
  • Later Model is Sony a5000
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Panasonic LX3 vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

Below is a extensive review of the Panasonic LX3 vs Sony NEX-3N, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the LX3 (10MP) and NEX-3N (16MP) and the LX3 (1/1.63") and NEX-3N (APS-C) come with different sensor measurements.

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The LX3 was unveiled 5 years before the NEX-3N and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic LX3 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the LX3 grades versus the NEX-3N with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LX3 over the Sony NEX-3N

 LX3 NEX-3N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Panasonic LX3

 NEX-3N LX3 
RevealedFebruary 2013November 2008More recent by 52 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Panasonic LX3 and Sony NEX-3N

 LX3 NEX-3N 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Panasonic LX3 vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic LX3 has got exterior measurements of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3N has proportions of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic LX3 vs Sony NEX-3N in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the LX3 compared to the NEX-3N.

Panasonic LX3 vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the LX3 and NEX-3N is 91 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic LX3 vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to visualize the difference between sensor measurements only by looking at a spec sheet. The graphic below will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the LX3 and NEX-3N.

As you can see, each of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The LX3 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony NEX-3N will resolve greater detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics much more aggressively. The older LX3 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic LX3 vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX3 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-3N Portrait photography highlights
40
you can focus manually
saves RAW files
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.63")
66
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Street photography information
Sony NEX-3N Street photography information
60
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/1.63")
heavier than competitors in class (265g)
77
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-3N Sports photography factors
27
image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.63")
lacks phase detect autofocus
54
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good battery life (480 CIPA)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-3N Travel photography advice
60
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors in class (265g)
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
71
good battery life (480 shots)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-3N Landscape photography highlights
52
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low MP (10MP)
small sensor size (1/1.63")
lack of Time Lapse mode
70
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (480 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Vlogging camera
30
relatively wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Optical)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic jack
heavier than competitors in class (265 grams)
28
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
no external mic support
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Panasonic LX3 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX3 and Sony NEX-3N
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3Sony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2008-11-04 2013-02-25
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.63" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 8.07 x 5.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 44.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 16000
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-60mm (2.5x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.0-2.8 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 4.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.30 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (HD 24 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (10fps) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 265g (0.58 lbs) 269g (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 109 x 60 x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 39 74
DXO Color Depth rating 19.6 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 12.5
DXO Low light rating 94 1067
Other
Battery life - 480 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch cost $449 $399