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Nikon D3 vs Sony A6300

Portability
50
Imaging
56
Features
63
Overall
58
Nikon D3 front
 
Sony Alpha a6300 front
Portability
83
Imaging
67
Features
82
Overall
73

Nikon D3 vs Sony A6300 Key Specs

Nikon D3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 1300g - 160 x 157 x 88mm
  • Revealed April 2008
  • Refreshed by Nikon D3S
Sony A6300
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 51200)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 404g - 120 x 67 x 49mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Earlier Model is Sony A6000
  • New Model is Sony A6500
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Nikon D3 vs Sony A6300 Overview

Below is a extensive analysis of the Nikon D3 versus Sony A6300, one being a Pro DSLR and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Nikon and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the D3 (12MP) and A6300 (24MP) and the D3 (Full frame) and A6300 (APS-C) have different sensor measurements.

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The D3 was manufactured 8 years before the A6300 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Nikon D3 being a Large SLR camera and the Sony A6300 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a simple overview of how the D3 grades against the A6300 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3 over the Sony A6300

 D3 A6300 

Reasons to pick Sony A6300 over the Nikon D3

 A6300 D3 
IntroducedFebruary 2016April 2008More recent by 94 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Nikon D3 and Sony A6300

 D3 A6300 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Display resolution922k922kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Nikon D3 vs Sony A6300 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon D3 has got outer dimensions of 160mm x 157mm x 88mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.5") and a weight of 1300 grams (2.87 lbs) while the Sony A6300 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 49mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.9") having a weight of 404 grams (0.89 lbs).

See the Nikon D3 versus Sony A6300 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the D3 and the A6300.

Nikon D3 vs Sony A6300 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the D3 and A6300 is 50 and 83 respectively.

Nikon D3 vs Sony A6300 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3 vs Sony A6300 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements simply by looking at specs. The graphic here should provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D3 and A6300.

All in all, both the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The D3 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Sony A6300 will resolve greater detail due to its extra 12MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older D3 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Nikon D3 vs Sony A6300 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3 vs Sony A6300 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3 vs Sony A6300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D3
Portrait photography with Sony A6300
63
manual focus
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
80
manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3 as a Street photography camera
Sony A6300 as a Street photography camera
54
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
79
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3 Sports photography information
Sony A6300 Sports photography information
65
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proofing
good battery life (4,300 CIPA)
has phase detect auto focus
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
75
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
comes with phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D3
Travel photography with Sony A6300
51
good battery life (4,300 per charge)
weather proofing
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
76
environment proof
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3 Landscape photography details
Sony A6300 Landscape photography details
67
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
good battery life (4,300 shots)
2 card slots
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
79
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D3
Vlogging with Sony A6300
9
lack of video recording
35
offers face detect focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have mic jack
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
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Nikon D3 vs Sony A6300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3 and Sony A6300
 Nikon D3Sony Alpha a6300
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D3 Sony Alpha a6300
Type Pro DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2008-04-18 2016-02-03
Body design Large SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed BIONZ X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 36 x 23.9mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 860.4mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 5:4 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4256 x 2832 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 51 425
Cross type focus points 15 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Sony E
Available lenses 309 121
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 922 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 11.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction, Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 4K (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p), 1920 x 1080 (120p, 60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (24p)
Maximum video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 1300 gr (2.87 lb) 404 gr (0.89 lb)
Physical dimensions 160 x 157 x 88mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.5") 120 x 67 x 49mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 81 85
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 24.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 13.7
DXO Low light rating 2290 1437
Other
Battery life 4300 shots 400 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) x2 SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 2 Single
Retail pricing $5,450 $889