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Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
45
Overall
47
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Sony A300
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Introduced January 2008
  • Later Model is Sony A330
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • 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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Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Sony A300 and Sony NEX-3, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are created by Sony. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the A300 (10MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The A300 was introduced 3 years before the NEX-3 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple overview of how the A300 grades against the NEX-3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A300 over the Sony NEX-3

 A300 NEX-3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony A300

 NEX-3 A300 
RevealedJune 2010January 2008More recent by 28 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Sony A300 and Sony NEX-3

 A300 NEX-3 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony A300 features outer dimensions of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has dimensions 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 Sony A300 and Sony NEX-3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the A300 vs the NEX-3.

Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A300 and NEX-3 is 64 and 89 respectively.

Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to imagine the gap between sensor measurements merely by reviewing technical specs. The visual here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the A300 and NEX-3.

As you have seen, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Sony NEX-3 to offer more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The older A300 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A300 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Portrait photography camera
59
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (10MP)
72
focusing manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A300 Street photography details
Sony NEX-3 Street photography details
74
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
76
screen tilts
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sony A300 Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography factors
54
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
52
MP count good (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A300 Travel photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography factors
45
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
59
MP count good (14 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A300 Landscape photography information
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography information
57
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
megapixel count low (10MP)
does not have Timelapse function
68
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
MP count good (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A300 Vlogging details
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging details
9
no video recording
27
provides face detect autofocus
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone support
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Sony A300 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A300 and Sony NEX-3
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A300Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2008-01-30 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3872 x 2592 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Total lenses 143 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 632g (1.39 lbs) 297g (0.65 lbs)
Physical dimensions 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 64 68
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score 11.4 12.0
DXO Low light score 538 830
Other
Battery life - 330 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $0 $0