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Samsung NX mini vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
93
Imaging
52
Features
68
Overall
58
Samsung NX mini front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
52
Overall
55

Samsung NX mini vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs

Samsung NX mini
(Full Review)
  • 20.5MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • 1/16000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX-M Mount
  • 196g - 110 x 62 x 23mm
  • Launched March 2014
Sony NEX-3N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched February 2013
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-F3
  • New Model is Sony a5000
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Samsung NX mini vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

Following is a comprehensive analysis of the Samsung NX mini and Sony NEX-3N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the NX mini (20.5MP) and NEX-3N (16MP) and the NX mini (1") and NEX-3N (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The NX mini was revealed 13 months after the NEX-3N making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the NX mini scores versus the NEX-3N for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX mini over the Sony NEX-3N

 NX mini NEX-3N 
LaunchedMarch 2014February 2013More modern by 13 months
Display resolution461k460kCrisper display (+1k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Samsung NX mini

 NEX-3N NX mini 

Common features in the Samsung NX mini and Sony NEX-3N

 NX mini NEX-3N 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Samsung NX mini vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Samsung NX mini comes with external dimensions of 110mm x 62mm x 23mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 0.9") with a weight of 196 grams (0.43 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3N has measurements of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check out the Samsung NX mini and Sony NEX-3N in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the NX mini versus the NEX-3N.

Samsung NX mini vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NX mini and NEX-3N is 93 and 89 respectively.

Samsung NX mini vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX mini vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes merely by reviewing specifications. The image below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the NX mini and NEX-3N.

To sum up, the two cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The NX mini having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh trickier and the Samsung NX mini will offer more detail because of its extra 4.5 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos much more aggressively. The more modern NX mini provides a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Samsung NX mini vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison

Samsung NX mini vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX mini vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX mini Portrait photography advice
Sony NEX-3N Portrait photography advice
71
manual focus
decent MP (20.5MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
66
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX mini Street photography advice
Sony NEX-3N Street photography advice
81
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW files
supports focus by touch
lighter than average (196g)
lack of image stabilization
77
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX mini as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Sports photography camera
54
maximum shutter speed is high (1/16,000 seconds)
decent MP (20.5MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
good battery life (650 shots)
low frames per second (6.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
53
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery (480 shots)
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Samsung NX mini
Travel photography with Sony NEX-3N
76
good battery life (650 CIPA)
lighter than average (196g)
supports focus by touch
decent MP (20.5 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
71
better than average battery (480 shots)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX mini as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Landscape photography camera
68
manual focus
swap lenses (Samsung NX-M mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent MP (20.5MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW files
good battery life (650 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse function
70
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (480 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX mini Vlogging information
Sony NEX-3N Vlogging information
38
touch screen
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone jack
lighter than average (196g)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
28
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
does not have microphone support
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Samsung NX mini vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX mini and Sony NEX-3N
 Samsung NX miniSony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Make Samsung Sony
Model Samsung NX mini Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2014-03-19 2013-02-25
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20.5MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5472 x 3648 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 16000
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 160 200
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 21 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Samsung NX-M Sony E
Available lenses 2 121
Focal length multiplier 2.7 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT-LCD (180 degree tilt) -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/16000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash modes Smart Flash, auto, auto + redeye reduction, fill-in, fill-in + redeye reduction, 1st curtain, 2nd curtain -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/200 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 (all 30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 196 gr (0.43 lb) 269 gr (0.59 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 62 x 23mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 0.9") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 74
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.5
DXO Low light score not tested 1067
Other
Battery life 650 photos 480 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model B740 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2-30 sec) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $530 $399