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Pentax X70 vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
71
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X70 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
52
Overall
55

Pentax X70 vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs

Pentax X70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 50 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-624mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 410g - 110 x 83 x 90mm
  • Released March 2009
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
  • Newer Model is Sony a5000
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Pentax X70 vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

The following is a complete overview of the Pentax X70 and Sony NEX-3N, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the X70 (12MP) and NEX-3N (16MP) and the X70 (1/2.3") and NEX-3N (APS-C) use different sensor sizing.

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The X70 was introduced 5 years prior to the NEX-3N which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax X70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the X70 matches up versus the NEX-3N when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X70 over the Sony NEX-3N

 X70 NEX-3N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Pentax X70

 NEX-3N X70 
AnnouncedFebruary 2013March 2009Newer by 48 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Pentax X70 and Sony NEX-3N

 X70 NEX-3N 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Pentax X70 vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera often, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax X70 features exterior measurements of 110mm x 83mm x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") and a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3N has proportions of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax X70 and Sony NEX-3N in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the X70 vs the NEX-3N.

Pentax X70 vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the X70 and NEX-3N is 71 and 89 respectively.

Pentax X70 vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions only by looking at specs. The image below should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the X70 and NEX-3N.

All in all, both of those cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The X70 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony NEX-3N will give more detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged X70 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Pentax X70 vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X70 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X70 Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-3N Portrait photography factors
29
focusing manually
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
66
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax X70
Street photography with Sony NEX-3N
46
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
77
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X70 Sports photography details
Sony NEX-3N Sports photography details
50
excellent zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
has phase detect AF
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
54
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good battery power (480 CIPA)
max frames per second very slow (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X70 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-3N Travel photography info
52
built-in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
long zoom (624mm)
lack of Timelapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
good battery power (480 per charge)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X70 Landscape photography advice
Sony NEX-3N Landscape photography advice
36
focusing manually
reasonably wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
70
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
good battery power (480 CIPA)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X70 Vlogging features
Sony NEX-3N Vlogging features
24
reasonably wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone socket
28
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Pentax X70 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X70 and Sony NEX-3N
 Pentax X70Sony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X70 Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2009-03-02 2013-02-25
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 16000
Min native ISO 50 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 26-624mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focus range 10cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.10 m -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 410 gr (0.90 lb) 269 gr (0.59 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 83 x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 74
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.5
DXO Low light score not tested 1067
Other
Battery life - 480 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $200 $399