Samsung MV800 vs Sony NEX-3

Lets look more in depth at the Samsung MV800 vs Sony NEX-3, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Samsung and Sony. The image resolution of the MV800 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is relatively close but the MV800 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The MV800 was unveiled 16 months later than the NEX-3 which makes them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Samsung MV800 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the MV800 matches up vs the NEX-3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Samsung MV800 & Sony Alpha NEX-3. The full galleries are available at Samsung MV800 Gallery & Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Samsung MV800 offers outer dimensions of 92mm x 56mm x 10mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.4") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has sizing of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Compare the Samsung MV800 vs Sony NEX-3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose at the time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the MV800 and the NEX-3.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the MV800 and NEX-3 is 97 and 89 respectively.

In many cases, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing simply by viewing technical specs. The photograph here may offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the MV800 and NEX-3.

As you have seen, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The MV800 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Samsung MV800 will provide you with greater detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more recent MV800 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.