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Ricoh CX5 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
35
Overall
34
Ricoh CX5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Ricoh CX5 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Ricoh CX5
(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 July 2011
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
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Ricoh CX5 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Ricoh CX5 and Sony NEX-3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Ricoh and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the CX5 (10MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the CX5 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

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The CX5 was revealed 14 months later than the NEX-3 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Ricoh CX5 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a simple summation of how the CX5 scores versus the NEX-3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh CX5 over the Sony NEX-3

 CX5 NEX-3 
RevealedJuly 2011June 2010More recent by 14 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Ricoh CX5

 NEX-3 CX5 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Ricoh CX5 and Sony NEX-3

 CX5 NEX-3 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Display resolution920k920kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Ricoh CX5 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Ricoh CX5 offers physical dimensions of 102mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has specifications of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

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Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the CX5 and the NEX-3.

Ricoh CX5 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the CX5 and NEX-3 is 92 and 89 respectively.

Ricoh CX5 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh CX5 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements purely by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic here may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the CX5 and NEX-3.

Clearly, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The CX5 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh trickier and the Sony NEX-3 will provide you with greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The more recent CX5 should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Ricoh CX5 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Ricoh CX5 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh CX5 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh CX5 Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography details
28
focusing manually
external flash not possible
low MP (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
72
focusing manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Ricoh CX5
Street photography with Sony NEX-3
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (205 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
76
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh CX5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Sports photography camera
25
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
52
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Ricoh CX5
Travel photography with Sony NEX-3
66
lighter than competition (205 grams)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
great reach (300mm)
low MP (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
59
MP count good (14 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh CX5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Landscape photography camera
45
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
68
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh CX5 Vlogging details
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging details
30
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (205 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone support
27
features face detection focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic jack
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Ricoh CX5 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh CX5 and Sony NEX-3
 Ricoh CX5Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Company Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh CX5 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-07-19 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Smooth Imaging Engine IV Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing 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
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-300mm (10.7x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-5.6 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 205 gr (0.45 lbs) 297 gr (0.65 lbs)
Physical 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 score not tested 68
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.0
DXO Low light score not tested 830
Other
Battery life - 330 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model DB-100 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2, 10 or Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $399 $0