Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs.
In this section, we are going to illustrate the Sony NEX-5R and Panasonic TS3 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony NEX-5R has external dimensions of 111 x 59 x 39 mm (4.37 x 2.32 x 1.54″) and weighs 276 g (0.61 lb / 9.74 oz) (including batteries). Panasonic TS3 has external dimensions of 103 x 64 x 27 mm (4.06 x 2.52 x 1.06″) and weighs 197 g (0.43 lb / 6.95 oz) (including batteries).
Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Sony NEX-5R and the Panasonic TS3. Panasonic TS3 is 8mm narrower and 12mm thinner than Sony NEX-5R but it is also 5mm taller. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Panasonic TS3 has a built-in lens but Sony NEX-5R doesn't. Once you put a lens on NEX-5R, its thickness will increase significantly.
Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony NEX-5R and Panasonic TS3.
Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day.
Panasonic TS3 is significantly lighter (79g ) than the Sony NEX-5R which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.
Again, this comparison may not be very useful in real life as we are comparing the weight of a camera with a built-in lens to the body-only weight of an interchangeable lens camera. Once you put a lens on NEX-5R, the total kit will weigh much higher.
Weather Sealing
Thanks to the weather-sealed body of the TS3, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to the NEX-5R.
LCD Screen Size and Features
Sony NEX-5R's 3.00" LCD screen is slightly larger than Panasonic TS3's 2.7" screen.
In addition to the size advantage, Sony NEX-5R LCD screen also has a
Tilting feature where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels. On the other hand, Panasonic TS3 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to NEX-5R.