Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony NEX-3

Its time to take a deeper look at the Panasonic ZS1 and Sony NEX-3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the ZS1 (10MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the ZS1 (1/2.5") and NEX-3 (APS-C) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS1 was released 12 months earlier than the NEX-3 so they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick overview of how the ZS1 matches up versus the NEX-3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 & Sony Alpha NEX-3. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic ZS1 Gallery & Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

If you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS1 enjoys physical dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS1 and Sony NEX-3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the ZS1 compared to the NEX-3.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS1 and NEX-3 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Usually, it can be tough to picture the contrast in sensor measurements simply by researching specifications. The photograph here will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS1 and NEX-3.

Plainly, the 2 cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The ZS1 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony NEX-3 will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older ZS1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.