Pentax W80 vs Sony NEX-3N

In this write-up, we are matching up the Pentax W80 versus Sony NEX-3N, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the W80 (12MP) and NEX-3N (16MP) and the W80 (1/2.3") and NEX-3N (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The W80 was introduced 4 years prior to the NEX-3N which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax W80 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the W80 grades vs the NEX-3N when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax Optio W80 and Sony Alpha NEX-3N. The whole galleries are viewable at Pentax W80 Gallery and Sony NEX-3N Gallery.

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax W80 offers outer dimensions of 100mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3N has specifications of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Pentax W80 versus Sony NEX-3N in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the W80 compared to the NEX-3N.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the W80 and NEX-3N is 94 and 89 respectively.

In many cases, it can be hard to see the gap between sensor dimensions purely by looking at a spec sheet. The pic here will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the W80 and NEX-3N.

As you can see, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The W80 using its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony NEX-3N will give more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged W80 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.