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Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
86
Imaging
44
Features
62
Overall
51
Nikon 1 AW1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Nikon 1 AW1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 356g - 114 x 72 x 37mm
  • Revealed September 2013
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
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-C3
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Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Below is a in-depth review of the Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. The image resolution of the 1 AW1 (14MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the 1 AW1 (1") and NEX-3 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 1 AW1 was announced 3 years later than the NEX-3 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick overview of how the 1 AW1 scores vs the NEX-3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 AW1 over the Sony NEX-3

 1 AW1 NEX-3 
RevealedSeptember 2013June 2010More recent by 40 months
Screen resolution921k920kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Nikon 1 AW1

 NEX-3 1 AW1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Nikon 1 AW1 and Sony NEX-3

 1 AW1 NEX-3 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and volume. The Nikon 1 AW1 comes with exterior measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.5") and a weight of 356 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3 has sizing of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Check the Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the 1 AW1 compared to the NEX-3.

Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 1 AW1 and NEX-3 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading through technical specs. The graphic here should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the 1 AW1 and NEX-3.

As you have seen, both of those cameras posses the exact same megapixels albeit not the same sensor measurements. The 1 AW1 uses the tinier sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field more difficult. The more modern 1 AW1 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon 1 AW1
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
59
manual focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
no external flash support
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 AW1 Street photography features
Sony NEX-3 Street photography features
67
decent sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
environment proofing
no moving screen
no image stabilization
76
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 AW1 Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography factors
59
fast continuous shooting (60.0 frames/s)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
bad battery (220 shots)
52
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 AW1 Travel photography information
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography information
63
environment proofing
resolution is good (14MP)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery (220 per charge)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
59
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 AW1 Landscape photography advice
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography advice
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
resolution is good (14MP)
decent sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
environment proofing
no image stabilization
bad battery (220 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
68
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon 1 AW1
Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
29
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
missing external microphone jack
27
supports face detect focus
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone support
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Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 AW1 and Sony NEX-3
 Nikon 1 AW1Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model Nikon 1 AW1 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-09-19 2010-06-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor EXPEED 3A Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3072 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 160 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 135 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon 1 Sony E
Available lenses 13 121
Crop factor 2.7 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 921k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 60.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes Fill flash, fill w/slow sync, rear curtain sync, rear w/slow sync, redeye reduction, redeye w/slow sync, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/60s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p), 640 x 240 (400 fps), 320 x 120 (1200 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 356g (0.78 pounds) 297g (0.65 pounds)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 37mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.5") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 51 68
DXO Color Depth score 20.2 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score 10.9 12.0
DXO Low light score 428 830
Other
Battery life 220 images 330 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL20 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $0 $0