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Canon M3 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
85
Imaging
66
Features
76
Overall
70
Canon EOS M3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Canon M3 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Canon M3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 366g - 111 x 68 x 44mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Successor is Canon M6
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
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Canon M3 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Canon M3 and Sony NEX-3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Canon and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the M3 (24MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The M3 was released 4 years later than the NEX-3 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the M3 scores versus the NEX-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon M3 over the Sony NEX-3

 M3 NEX-3 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015June 2010Fresher by 57 months
Display resolution1040k920kCrisper display (+120k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Canon M3

 NEX-3 M3 

Common features in the Canon M3 and Sony NEX-3

 M3 NEX-3 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing

Canon M3 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon M3 has got external measurements of 111mm x 68mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") and a weight of 366 grams (0.81 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3 has dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Compare the Canon M3 and Sony NEX-3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the M3 compared to the NEX-3.

Canon M3 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the M3 and NEX-3 is 85 and 89 respectively.

Canon M3 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Canon M3 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing simply by looking through specs. The visual underneath will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the M3 and NEX-3.

All in all, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Canon M3 to provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The fresher M3 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Canon M3 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Canon M3 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M3 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon M3 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography highlights
79
has manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon M3 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Street photography camera
79
tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
includes focus by touch
does not have image stabilization
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon M3 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography info
61
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking focus
has phase detect autofocus
low fps (4.2 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (250 shots)
52
MP count good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon M3 Travel photography details
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography details
73
includes focus by touch
megapixel count good (24MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery pack (250 per charge)
59
MP count good (14MP)
no Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon M3
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3
68
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (250 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
68
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon M3 Vlogging details
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging details
80
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
has face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone support
does not have image stabilization
27
comes with face detect focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone support
Photography Glossary

Canon M3 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M3 and Sony NEX-3
 Canon EOS M3Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon EOS M3 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2015-02-06 2010-06-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 6 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 6000 x 4000 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 49 25
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF-M Sony E
Total lenses 23 121
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.2 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 366 grams (0.81 pounds) 297 grams (0.65 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 68 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 68
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 12.0
DXO Low light score 1169 830
Other
Battery life 250 pictures 330 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E17 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $481 $0