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Ricoh CX4 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
34
Overall
33
Ricoh CX4 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Ricoh CX4 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Ricoh CX4
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 205g - 102 x 59 x 29mm
  • Released August 2010
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
  • Announced June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-C3
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Ricoh CX4 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Ricoh CX4 vs Sony NEX-3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Ricoh and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the CX4 (10MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the CX4 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The CX4 was brought out 3 months later than the NEX-3 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh CX4 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short overview of how the CX4 grades against the NEX-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh CX4 over the Sony NEX-3

 CX4 NEX-3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Ricoh CX4

 NEX-3 CX4 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Ricoh CX4 and Sony NEX-3

 CX4 NEX-3 
AnnouncedAugust 2010June 2010Similar generation
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Screen resolution920k920kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Ricoh CX4 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Ricoh CX4 has physical dimensions of 102mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has proportions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Check out the Ricoh CX4 vs Sony NEX-3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the CX4 versus the NEX-3.

Ricoh CX4 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the CX4 and NEX-3 is 92 and 89 respectively.

Ricoh CX4 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh CX4 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements purely by checking a spec sheet. The visual here should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the CX4 and NEX-3.

As you can see, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The CX4 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Sony NEX-3 will give you more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively.

Ricoh CX4 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Ricoh CX4 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh CX4 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Ricoh CX4
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
26
has manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Ricoh CX4
Street photography with Sony NEX-3
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (205 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
76
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh CX4 Sports photography information
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography information
24
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
52
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Ricoh CX4
Travel photography with Sony NEX-3
66
lighter than competition (205g)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
long zoom (300mm)
MP count low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
59
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh CX4 Landscape photography advice
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography advice
42
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
68
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh CX4 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Vlogging camera
30
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (205 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic socket
27
includes face detect focus
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic port
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Ricoh CX4 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh CX4 and Sony NEX-3
 Ricoh CX4Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh CX4 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2010-08-19 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Smooth Imaging Engine IV Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-300mm (10.7x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-5.6 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 205 grams (0.45 lb) 297 grams (0.65 lb)
Dimensions 102 x 59 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID DB-100 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2, 10 or Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $211 $0