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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Revealed September 2011
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
  • Revealed June 2010
  • New Model is Sony NEX-C3
Photography Glossary

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Here is a complete overview of the Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the RZ18 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is pretty similar but the RZ18 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) posses different sensor measurements.

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The RZ18 was introduced 16 months later than the NEX-3 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the RZ18 matches up against the NEX-3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Sony NEX-3

 RZ18 NEX-3 
RevealedSeptember 2011June 2010Fresher by 16 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Pentax RZ18

 NEX-3 RZ18 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Pentax RZ18 and Sony NEX-3

 RZ18 NEX-3 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Pentax RZ18 enjoys exterior measurements of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has specifications of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

See the Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the RZ18 and the NEX-3.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the RZ18 and NEX-3 is 92 and 89 respectively.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading technical specs. The graphic underneath may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the RZ18 and NEX-3.

As you can tell, both of those cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The RZ18 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Pentax RZ18 will deliver extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures more aggressively. The newer RZ18 should have an advantage in sensor tech.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax RZ18 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Portrait photography camera
36
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
72
you can focus manually
MP count decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Street photography information
Sony NEX-3 Street photography information
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
lighter than competition (178g)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
76
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax RZ18 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Sports photography camera
47
long zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
environment proofing
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
52
MP count decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography info
71
lighter than competition (178 grams)
environment proofing
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (450mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
59
MP count decent (14MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax RZ18
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3
49
focusing manually
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
68
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Vlogging information
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging information
30
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (178g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic support
27
includes face detection focus
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic socket
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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RZ18 and Sony NEX-3
 Pentax Optio RZ18Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio RZ18 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-09-12 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-450mm (18.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 4cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 2.80 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 178 gr (0.39 pounds) 297 gr (0.65 pounds)
Physical dimensions 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 68
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 830
Other
Battery life - 330 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $210 $0