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Nikon 1 V1 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
84
Imaging
40
Features
68
Overall
51
Nikon 1 V1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Nikon 1 V1 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Nikon 1 V1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 383g - 113 x 76 x 44mm
  • Released January 2012
  • Updated by Nikon 1 V2
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
  • Updated by Sony NEX-C3
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Nikon 1 V1 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Nikon 1 V1 versus Sony NEX-3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by brands Nikon and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the 1 V1 (10MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the 1 V1 (1") and NEX-3 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 1 V1 was announced 20 months after the NEX-3 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the 1 V1 scores vs the NEX-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 V1 over the Sony NEX-3

 1 V1 NEX-3 
IntroducedJanuary 2012June 2010Newer by 20 months
Screen resolution921k920kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Nikon 1 V1

 NEX-3 1 V1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Nikon 1 V1 and Sony NEX-3

 1 V1 NEX-3 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Nikon 1 V1 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Nikon 1 V1 has outer measurements of 113mm x 76mm x 44mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.7") and a weight of 383 grams (0.84 lbs) whilst 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 Nikon 1 V1 versus Sony NEX-3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the 1 V1 compared to the NEX-3.

Nikon 1 V1 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the 1 V1 and NEX-3 is 84 and 89 respectively.

Nikon 1 V1 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 V1 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by viewing specs. The image below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the 1 V1 and NEX-3.

All in all, both of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The 1 V1 having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony NEX-3 will provide you with more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The fresher 1 V1 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon 1 V1 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 V1 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 V1 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 V1 Portrait photography info
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography info
54
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
resolution not great (10MP)
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 V1 Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Street photography highlights
62
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
76
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 V1 Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography factors
53
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
decent sensor size (1")
includes tracking focus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
52
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 V1 Travel photography details
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography details
41
resolution not great (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
59
good resolution (14MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 V1 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography info
60
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
68
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 V1 Vlogging info
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging info
30
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic socket
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
27
features face detection focusing
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic support
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Nikon 1 V1 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 V1 and Sony NEX-3
 Nikon 1 V1Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon 1 V1 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-01-20 2010-06-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface 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 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 135 25
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon 1 Sony E
Number of lenses 13 121
Crop factor 2.7 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
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 data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 383g (0.84 lbs) 297g (0.65 lbs)
Dimensions 113 x 76 x 44mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.7") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 68
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.0 12.0
DXO Low light rating 346 830
Other
Battery life 350 shots 330 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL15 NPFW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $670 $0