Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony NEX-3

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Panasonic ZS45 and Sony NEX-3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the ZS45 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is pretty close but the ZS45 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The ZS45 was revealed 4 years later than the NEX-3 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the ZS45 grades vs the NEX-3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 and Sony Alpha NEX-3. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZS45 Gallery and Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS45 comes with external measurements of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3 has proportions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZS45 and Sony NEX-3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at that moment. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the ZS45 versus the NEX-3.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS45 and NEX-3 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Normally, it is difficult to envision the gap in sensor measurements purely by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic here will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS45 and NEX-3.

As you can see, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The ZS45 with its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Panasonic ZS45 will render extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The younger ZS45 is going to have an edge in sensor technology.