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Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37
Ricoh WG-30 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Ricoh WG-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 123 x 62 x 30mm
  • Introduced October 2014
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
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
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Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

In this article, we will be comparing the Ricoh WG-30 and Sony NEX-3, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Ricoh and Sony. The sensor resolution of the WG-30 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the WG-30 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) possess different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The WG-30 was released 4 years after the NEX-3 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh WG-30 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the WG-30 grades against the NEX-3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-30 over the Sony NEX-3

 WG-30 NEX-3 
IntroducedOctober 2014June 2010Newer by 53 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Ricoh WG-30

 NEX-3 WG-30 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Ricoh WG-30 and Sony NEX-3

 WG-30 NEX-3 
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh WG-30 has external measurements of 123mm x 62mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Check the Ricoh WG-30 and Sony NEX-3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the WG-30 and the NEX-3.

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the WG-30 and NEX-3 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by going through specs. The pic below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-30 and NEX-3.

All in all, both the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The WG-30 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Ricoh WG-30 will show greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs far more aggressively. The younger WG-30 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh WG-30 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography highlights
35
good resolution (16 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Ricoh WG-30
Street photography with Sony NEX-3
61
has image stabilization (Digital)
weather proof
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
76
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh WG-30 Sports photography advice
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography advice
45
has image stabilization (Digital)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
weather proof
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
52
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh WG-30 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography info
71
weather proof
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
59
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh WG-30 Landscape photography details
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography details
43
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Digital)
good resolution (16MP)
weather proof
no manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
68
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh WG-30 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Vlogging camera
33
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Digital)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
missing mic port
27
includes face detection focus
does not have selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh WG-30 and Sony NEX-3
 Ricoh WG-30Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Company Ricoh Sony
Model type Ricoh WG-30 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Category Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2014-10-09 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 125 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.90 m (Auto ISO) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 192g (0.42 lb) 297g (0.65 lb)
Dimensions 123 x 62 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 300 pictures 330 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 NPFW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $428 $0