Pentax ist DL2 vs Sony NEX-3N

On this page, we will be matching up the Pentax ist DL2 versus Sony NEX-3N, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the ist DL2 (6MP) and NEX-3N (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The ist DL2 was revealed 8 years prior to the NEX-3N and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a complete comparison, here is a concise view of how the ist DL2 scores versus the NEX-3N in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax ist DL2 & Sony Alpha NEX-3N. The full galleries are available at Pentax ist DL2 Gallery & Sony NEX-3N Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Pentax ist DL2 enjoys outer dimensions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3N has dimensions of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check the Pentax ist DL2 versus Sony NEX-3N in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the ist DL2 compared to the NEX-3N.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ist DL2 and NEX-3N is 69 and 89 respectively.

Typically, it is very tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements simply by viewing technical specs. The visual underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the ist DL2 and NEX-3N.

As you can tell, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can expect the Sony NEX-3N to render extra detail because of its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots more aggressively. The older ist DL2 will be behind in sensor innovation.