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Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
92
Imaging
41
Features
56
Overall
47
Nikon 1 S1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Nikon 1 S1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 197g - 102 x 61 x 30mm
  • Revealed June 2013
  • Successor is Nikon 1 S2
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
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-C3
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Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Nikon 1 S1 versus Sony NEX-3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Nikon and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the 1 S1 (10MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the 1 S1 (1") and NEX-3 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 1 S1 was announced 3 years after the NEX-3 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a brief summation of how the 1 S1 grades against the NEX-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 S1 over the Sony NEX-3

 1 S1 NEX-3 
IntroducedJune 2013June 2010Newer by 37 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Nikon 1 S1

 NEX-3 1 S1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Nikon 1 S1 and Sony NEX-3

 1 S1 NEX-3 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Nikon 1 S1 enjoys exterior dimensions of 102mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3 has specifications 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 Nikon 1 S1 versus Sony NEX-3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the 1 S1 compared to the NEX-3.

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the 1 S1 and NEX-3 is 92 and 89 respectively.

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to see the difference between sensor dimensions only by looking at a spec sheet. The pic below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 S1 and NEX-3.

As you can see, both of those cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The 1 S1 with its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony NEX-3 will resolve more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots much more aggressively. The younger 1 S1 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 S1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Portrait photography camera
48
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 S1 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Street photography camera
69
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than average (197g)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 S1 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography features
49
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
sensor size is nice (1")
offers tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
52
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 S1 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography info
61
lighter than average (197 grams)
built-in flash
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
59
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 S1 Landscape photography details
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography details
56
has manual focus
change lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
68
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
megapixel count good (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 S1 Vlogging info
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging info
30
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (197 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have external mic port
27
comes with face detect autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic port
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Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 S1 and Sony NEX-3
 Nikon 1 S1Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon 1 S1 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-06-21 2010-06-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3872 x 2592 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 135 25
Lens
Lens support Nikon 1 Sony E
Total lenses 13 121
Crop factor 2.7 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 15.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/60 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 1072 x 720 (60 fps) 640 x 240 (400), 320 x 120 (1200) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 197 gr (0.43 lb) 297 gr (0.65 lb)
Dimensions 102 x 61 x 30mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.2") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 68
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.1 12.0
DXO Low light rating 397 830
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 330 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL20 NPFW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $231 $0