Sony A7 vs Sony NEX-3

Following is a in depth overview of the Sony A7 and Sony NEX-3, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both offered by Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the A7 (24MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the A7 (Full frame) and NEX-3 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A7 was unveiled 3 years after the NEX-3 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony A7 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the A7 grades versus the NEX-3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Sony Alpha A7 & Sony Alpha NEX-3. The full galleries are provided at Sony A7 Gallery & Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Sony A7 features outside measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 474 grams (1.04 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).

Examine the Sony A7 and Sony NEX-3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the A7 and the NEX-3.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the A7 and NEX-3 is 78 and 89 respectively.

Usually, it can be difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes only by checking out specs. The image underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the A7 and NEX-3.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A7 with its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony A7 will show more detail having an extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos way more aggressively. The fresher A7 will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.