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Nikon P500 vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
67
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39
Nikon Coolpix P500 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
52
Overall
55

Nikon P500 vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs

Nikon P500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-810mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 494g - 116 x 84 x 103mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Later Model is Nikon P510
Sony NEX-3N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced February 2013
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-F3
  • New Model is Sony a5000
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Nikon P500 vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Nikon P500 vs Sony NEX-3N, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Nikon and Sony. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the P500 (12MP) and NEX-3N (16MP) and the P500 (1/2.3") and NEX-3N (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

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The P500 was released 24 months earlier than the NEX-3N making them a generation away from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Nikon P500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the P500 matches up against the NEX-3N with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Sony NEX-3N

 P500 NEX-3N 
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Nikon P500

 NEX-3N P500 
AnnouncedFebruary 2013February 2011More modern by 24 months

Common features in the Nikon P500 and Sony NEX-3N

 P500 NEX-3N 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Nikon P500 vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon P500 provides outer dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") and a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3N has sizing of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Nikon P500 vs Sony NEX-3N in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the P500 versus the NEX-3N.

Nikon P500 vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the P500 and NEX-3N is 67 and 89 respectively.

Nikon P500 vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison

Nikon P500 vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes simply by reviewing specifications. The pic here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the P500 and NEX-3N.

To sum up, both of those cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The P500 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh more difficult and the Sony NEX-3N will offer you greater detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged P500 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon P500 vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison

Nikon P500 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P500 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P500 Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-3N Portrait photography details
34
focusing manually
includes face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
66
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Nikon P500 Street photography details
Sony NEX-3N Street photography details
50
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than competitors (494 grams)
77
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon P500 Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-3N Sports photography factors
36
excellent zoom range (23-810mm 35.2 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
54
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great battery life (480 CIPA)
low frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Travel photography camera
47
built-in flash
relatively wide (23mm)
great reach (810mm)
no Timelapse function
not so great battery life (220 shots)
more heavy than competitors (494g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.4)
71
great battery life (480 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P500 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-3N Landscape photography highlights
39
focusing manually
relatively wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
70
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (480 per charge)
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Vlogging camera
27
relatively wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no external microphone support
more heavy than competitors (494 grams)
28
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have external mic port
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Nikon P500 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P500 and Sony NEX-3N
 Nikon Coolpix P500Sony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix P500 Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-02-09 2013-02-25
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed C2 Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 16000
Minimum native ISO 160 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 23-810mm (35.2x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.7 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 921k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1500s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 494 grams (1.09 lb) 269 grams (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 74
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 1067
Other
Battery life 220 images 480 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL5 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) -
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $399 $399