Sony A7S vs Sony NEX-3

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Sony A7S and Sony NEX-3, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both sold by Sony. The resolution of the A7S (12MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the A7S (Full frame) and NEX-3 (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The A7S was unveiled 3 years later than the NEX-3 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Sony A7S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summation of how the A7S grades against the NEX-3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Alpha A7S and Sony Alpha NEX-3. The full galleries are viewable at Sony A7S Gallery and Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony A7S offers outer dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") along with a weight of 489 grams (1.08 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A7S and Sony NEX-3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the A7S and the NEX-3.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A7S and NEX-3 is 77 and 89 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing merely by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic below may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the A7S and NEX-3.

As you can see, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The A7S having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Sony NEX-3 will produce more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The newer A7S provides a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.