Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony NEX-3N

Here, we will be analyzing the Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony NEX-3N, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the ZS3 (10MP) and NEX-3N (16MP) and the ZS3 (1/2.3") and NEX-3N (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The ZS3 was launched 4 years earlier than the NEX-3N and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the ZS3 scores vs the NEX-3N in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 and Sony Alpha NEX-3N. The complete galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZS3 Gallery and Sony NEX-3N Gallery.

If you're looking to carry your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS3 features 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-3N has specifications 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 ZS3 vs Sony NEX-3N in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the ZS3 versus the NEX-3N.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS3 and NEX-3N is 91 and 89 respectively.

More often than not, it is very tough to see the gap between sensor sizing simply by going over specifications. The visual here may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS3 and NEX-3N.

To sum up, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The ZS3 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Sony NEX-3N will offer you more detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs way more aggressively. The older ZS3 is going to be behind in sensor technology.