Clicky

Canon M vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
89
Imaging
59
Features
65
Overall
61
Canon EOS M front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Canon M vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Canon M
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 298g - 109 x 66 x 32mm
  • Revealed July 2012
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Updated by Sony NEX-C3
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Canon M vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Canon M vs Sony NEX-3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Canon and Sony. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the M (18MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The M was unveiled 2 years after the NEX-3 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the M scores versus the NEX-3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

				

Reasons to pick Canon M over the Sony NEX-3

 M NEX-3 
LaunchedJuly 2012June 2010Newer by 26 months
Screen resolution1040k920kSharper screen (+120k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Canon M

 NEX-3 M 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Canon M and Sony NEX-3

 M NEX-3 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Canon M vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera often, you should consider its weight and volume. The Canon M provides external measurements of 109mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3 has sizing of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Check the Canon M vs Sony NEX-3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the M and the NEX-3.

Canon M vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

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

Canon M vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Canon M vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reviewing specifications. The picture underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the M and NEX-3.

Plainly, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Canon M to deliver extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more recent M provides a benefit in sensor tech.

Canon M vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Canon M vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon M
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
75
focusing manually
MP count good (18MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW files
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW files
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Canon M Street photography advice
Sony NEX-3 Street photography advice
72
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
features focus via touch
fixed screen
no image stabilization
76
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon M
Sports photography with Sony NEX-3
54
MP count good (18 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low battery power (230 per charge)
52
good megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Canon M Travel photography details
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography details
63
features focus via touch
MP count good (18 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
low battery power (230 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
59
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly display
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Landscape Comparison

Canon M as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Landscape photography camera
65
focusing manually
switch lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
MP count good (18MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
low battery power (230 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
68
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
lack of Timelapse recording
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Vlogging Comparison

Canon M Vlogging info
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging info
37
screen is touchscreen
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic port
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
27
includes face detection focusing
does not posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone support
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Canon M vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M and Sony NEX-3
 Canon EOS MSony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model Canon EOS M Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-07-23 2010-06-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 5 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 31 25
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF-M Sony E
Amount of lenses 23 121
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech Clear View II TFT LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/200s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 298 grams (0.66 pounds) 297 grams (0.65 pounds)
Dimensions 109 x 66 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 65 68
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score 11.2 12.0
DXO Low light score 827 830
Other
Battery life 230 photographs 330 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E12 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $510 $0