Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony NEX-3N

Here, we are matching up the Panasonic ZS40 and Sony NEX-3N, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the ZS40 (18MP) and the NEX-3N (16MP) is very close but the ZS40 (1/2.3") and NEX-3N (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

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The ZS40 was announced 11 months after the NEX-3N and they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summary of how the ZS40 matches up against the NEX-3N in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 & Sony Alpha NEX-3N. The whole galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS40 Gallery & Sony NEX-3N Gallery.

When you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS40 enjoys outside measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 240 grams (0.53 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).

Look at the Panasonic ZS40 and Sony NEX-3N in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the ZS40 versus the NEX-3N.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the ZS40 and NEX-3N is 90 and 89 respectively.

Often, its difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by viewing specs. The picture here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS40 and NEX-3N.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The ZS40 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Panasonic ZS40 will provide you with extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The younger ZS40 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.