Pentax K-30 vs Sony NEX-3

Following is a extensive review of the Pentax K-30 vs Sony NEX-3, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the K-30 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is relatively close and both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The K-30 was released 2 years after the NEX-3 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple view of how the K-30 grades against the NEX-3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax K-30 & Sony Alpha NEX-3. The complete galleries are available at Pentax K-30 Gallery & Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you need to think about its weight and size. The Pentax K-30 has outside dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has specifications of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Compare the Pentax K-30 vs Sony NEX-3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the K-30 compared to the NEX-3.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the K-30 and NEX-3 is 63 and 89 respectively.

Sometimes, its tough to picture the difference in sensor sizes purely by looking through specs. The picture here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-30 and NEX-3.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can count on the Pentax K-30 to provide you with more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots more aggressively. The more modern K-30 should have an edge in sensor innovation.