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Pentax 645D vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
50
Imaging
75
Features
52
Overall
65
Pentax 645D front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Pentax 645D vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Pentax 645D
(Full Review)
  • 40MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1480g - 156 x 117 x 119mm
  • Launched March 2010
  • Updated by Pentax 645Z
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
  • Released June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
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Pentax 645D vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Pentax 645D versus Sony NEX-3, former is a Pro DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Pentax and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the 645D (40MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the 645D (Medium format) and NEX-3 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

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The 645D was unveiled 2 months earlier than the NEX-3 so they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple summation of how the 645D scores vs the NEX-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax 645D over the Sony NEX-3

 645D NEX-3 
Screen resolution921k920kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Pentax 645D

 NEX-3 645D 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Pentax 645D and Sony NEX-3

 645D NEX-3 
ReleasedMarch 2010June 2010Similar age
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Pentax 645D vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax 645D has got external measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") accompanied by a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has proportions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Check the Pentax 645D versus Sony NEX-3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the 645D against the NEX-3.

Pentax 645D vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the 645D and NEX-3 is 50 and 89 respectively.

Pentax 645D vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Pentax 645D vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes just by reviewing a spec sheet. The image here will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the 645D and NEX-3.

Clearly, both the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The 645D using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Pentax 645D will offer more detail having an extra 26 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively.

Pentax 645D vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Pentax 645D vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax 645D vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax 645D Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography features
77
has manual focus
high megapixels (40 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax 645D Street photography information
Sony NEX-3 Street photography information
58
sensor size is great (Medium format)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
76
screen tilts
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax 645D
Sports photography with Sony NEX-3
62
high megapixels (40MP)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
environment proof
has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery life (800 per charge)
52
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax 645D
Travel photography with Sony NEX-3
55
environment proof
high megapixels (40MP)
bad battery life (800 per charge)
does not have a selfie friendly display
59
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Pentax 645D as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Landscape photography camera
72
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
high megapixels (40MP)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
does not have anti-alias filter
delivers RAW files
environment proof
2 card slots
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
bad battery life (800 CIPA)
68
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax 645D
Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
9
can't shoot video
27
comes with face detect focus
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic socket
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Pentax 645D vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax 645D and Sony NEX-3
 Pentax 645DSony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model Pentax 645D Sony Alpha NEX-3
Type Pro DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2010-03-10 2010-06-07
Physical type Large SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime II Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Medium format APS-C
Sensor dimensions 44 x 33mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 1,452.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 40MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 7264 x 5440 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax 645AF2 Sony E
Total lenses 6 121
Focal length multiplier 0.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle and with AR coating TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.85x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/125 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 1480g (3.26 lb) 297g (0.65 lb)
Dimensions 156 x 117 x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 82 68
DXO Color Depth score 24.6 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score 12.6 12.0
DXO Low light score 1262 830
Other
Battery life 800 images 330 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Dual 1
Cost at release $4,000 $0