Nikon S9900 vs Sony NEX-3

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Nikon S9900 vs Sony NEX-3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Nikon and Sony. The resolution of the S9900 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the S9900 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The S9900 was revealed 4 years after the NEX-3 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Nikon S9900 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a concise summation of how the S9900 matches up versus the NEX-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon Coolpix S9900 and Sony Alpha NEX-3. The full galleries are viewable at Nikon S9900 Gallery and Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon S9900 has external measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") and a weight of 289 grams (0.64 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has sizing of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon S9900 vs Sony NEX-3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the S9900 versus the NEX-3.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S9900 and NEX-3 is 88 and 89 respectively.

Sometimes, its hard to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions just by checking out technical specs. The image below will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the S9900 and NEX-3.

As you have seen, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The S9900 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Nikon S9900 will produce more detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots more aggressively. The younger S9900 should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.