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Pentax Q10 vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
56
Overall
44
Pentax Q10 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
52
Overall
55

Pentax Q10 vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs

Pentax Q10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Launched September 2012
  • Superseded the Pentax Q
  • Renewed by Pentax Q7
Sony NEX-3N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced February 2013
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-F3
  • Updated by Sony a5000
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Pentax Q10 vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Pentax Q10 versus Sony NEX-3N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the Q10 (12MP) and NEX-3N (16MP) and the Q10 (1/2.3") and NEX-3N (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The Q10 was brought out 5 months prior to the NEX-3N and they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a concise summation of how the Q10 matches up vs the NEX-3N when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax Q10 over the Sony NEX-3N

 Q10 NEX-3N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Pentax Q10

 NEX-3N Q10 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Pentax Q10 and Sony NEX-3N

 Q10 NEX-3N 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012February 2013Similar age
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Pentax Q10 vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax Q10 enjoys outer measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3N has sizing of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax Q10 versus Sony NEX-3N in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the Q10 compared to the NEX-3N.

Pentax Q10 vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the Q10 and NEX-3N is 92 and 89 respectively.

Pentax Q10 vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison

Pentax Q10 vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes just by looking at specifications. The pic underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the Q10 and NEX-3N.

To sum up, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The Q10 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Sony NEX-3N will give more detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively.

Pentax Q10 vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison

Pentax Q10 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax Q10 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax Q10 Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-3N Portrait photography details
48
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
66
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Pentax Q10 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-3N Street photography factors
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW files
lighter than average (200g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
77
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax Q10 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Sports photography camera
36
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow fps (5.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (270 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
54
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery power (480 shots)
max fps very slow (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax Q10
Travel photography with Sony NEX-3N
60
lighter than average (200 grams)
flash built-in
low battery (270 CIPA)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
71
better than average battery power (480 shots)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax Q10
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3N
54
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (270 shots)
70
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3")
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (480 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax Q10 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Vlogging camera
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (200g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic support
28
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
no mic support
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Pentax Q10 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax Q10 and Sony NEX-3N
 Pentax Q10Sony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Q10 Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-09-10 2013-02-25
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mount Pentax Q Sony E
Total lenses 8 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/2000s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 200 gr (0.44 lb) 269 gr (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 49 74
DXO Color Depth score 21.1 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.9 12.5
DXO Low light score 183 1067
Other
Battery life 270 pictures 480 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI68 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) -
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $350 $399