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Sigma SD15 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
59
Imaging
44
Features
45
Overall
44
Sigma SD15 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Sigma SD15 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Sigma SD15
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Sigma SA Mount
  • 750g - 144 x 107 x 81mm
  • Launched February 2010
  • Succeeded the Sigma SD14
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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Sigma SD15 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Sigma SD15 and Sony NEX-3, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Sigma and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the SD15 (5MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) but they come with the exact same sensor size (APS-C).

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The SD15 was released 3 months earlier than the NEX-3 and they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Sigma SD15 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the SD15 scores vs the NEX-3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sigma SD15 over the Sony NEX-3

 SD15 NEX-3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sigma SD15

 NEX-3 SD15 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Sigma SD15 and Sony NEX-3

 SD15 NEX-3 
RevealedFebruary 2010June 2010Same age
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Sigma SD15 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and size. The Sigma SD15 offers physical dimensions of 144mm x 107mm x 81mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.2") with a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs) while 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).

Check out the Sigma SD15 and Sony NEX-3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select during that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the SD15 and the NEX-3.

Sigma SD15 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SD15 and NEX-3 is 59 and 89 respectively.

Sigma SD15 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Sigma SD15 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizing only by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD15 and NEX-3.

As you can see, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can anticipate the Sony NEX-3 to show more detail as a result of its extra 9 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively.

Sigma SD15 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Sigma SD15 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma SD15 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma SD15 Portrait photography advice
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography advice
50
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
megapixel count low (5MP)
72
focusing manually
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sigma SD15
Street photography with Sony NEX-3
52
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
no image stabilization
76
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sigma SD15 Sports photography details
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography details
38
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
low fps (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (5MP)
52
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sigma SD15 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography highlights
42
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (5MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
59
MP count decent (14MP)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma SD15 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography info
51
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sigma SA mount)
screen size is decent (3")
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (5MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
68
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sigma SD15 Vlogging details
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging details
9
no video recording
27
supports face detect focus
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic socket
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Sigma SD15 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma SD15 and Sony NEX-3
 Sigma SD15Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Manufacturer Sigma Sony
Model type Sigma SD15 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2010-02-20 2010-06-07
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip True II Bionz
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 20.7 x 13.8mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 285.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 5MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 2640 x 1760 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max boosted ISO 3200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Sigma SA Sony E
Total lenses 76 121
Crop factor 1.7 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 96% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.6x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 750 gr (1.65 lbs) 297 gr (0.65 lbs)
Dimensions 144 x 107 x 81mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.2") 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 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $1,500 $0