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Nikon D5500 vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
71
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73
Nikon D5500 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
52
Overall
55

Nikon D5500 vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs

Nikon D5500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 420g - 124 x 97 x 70mm
  • Introduced January 2015
  • Replaced the Nikon D5300
  • New Model is Nikon D5600
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
  • Launched February 2013
  • Previous Model is Sony NEX-F3
  • Updated by Sony a5000
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Nikon D5500 vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Nikon D5500 versus Sony NEX-3N, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the D5500 (24MP) and NEX-3N (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The D5500 was launched 23 months after the NEX-3N making them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Nikon D5500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the D5500 matches up versus the NEX-3N with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5500 over the Sony NEX-3N

 D5500 NEX-3N 
LaunchedJanuary 2015February 2013Newer by 23 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Nikon D5500

 NEX-3N D5500 

Common features in the Nikon D5500 and Sony NEX-3N

 D5500 NEX-3N 
Manually focus More exact focusing

Nikon D5500 vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Nikon D5500 comes with outer measurements of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3N has sizing of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Nikon D5500 versus Sony NEX-3N in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose during that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the D5500 vs the NEX-3N.

Nikon D5500 vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the D5500 and NEX-3N is 71 and 89 respectively.

Nikon D5500 vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to picture the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reading a spec sheet. The image here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the D5500 and NEX-3N.

Clearly, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can expect to see the Nikon D5500 to offer more detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The fresher D5500 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon D5500 vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5500 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5500 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-3N Portrait photography information
79
you can focus manually
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
66
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5500 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Street photography camera
75
screen articulates
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
supports focus via touch
lighter than competitors in class (420g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
77
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5500 Sports photography details
Sony NEX-3N Sports photography details
68
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery (820 shots)
supports phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
54
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery pack (480 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5500 Travel photography information
Sony NEX-3N Travel photography information
81
better than average battery (820 CIPA)
lighter than competitors in class (420g)
supports focus via touch
good resolution (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
71
good battery pack (480 shots)
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5500 Landscape photography details
Sony NEX-3N Landscape photography details
78
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (820 shots)
does not have image stabilization
70
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (480 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D5500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Vlogging camera
75
display is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic port
lighter than competitors in class (420g)
does not have image stabilization
28
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
lack of external microphone socket
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Nikon D5500 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5500 and Sony NEX-3N
 Nikon D5500Sony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D5500 Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2015-01-06 2013-02-25
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 4 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6000 x 4000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 16000
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 39 25
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Sony E
Number of lenses 309 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3.2 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/200s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 420g (0.93 lbs) 269g (0.59 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 84 74
DXO Color Depth rating 24.1 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.0 12.5
DXO Low light rating 1438 1067
Other
Battery life 820 pictures 480 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14,EN-EL14a NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $700 $399