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Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
52
Overall
55

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs

Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A350
  • New Model is Sony A390
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
  • Introduced February 2013
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-F3
  • Renewed by Sony a5000
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Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Sony A380 versus Sony NEX-3N, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both offered by Sony. The image resolution of the A380 (14MP) and the NEX-3N (16MP) is very well matched and both cameras offer the same sensor size (APS-C).

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The A380 was brought out 4 years prior to the NEX-3N which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a concise summary of how the A380 grades against the NEX-3N with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Sony NEX-3N

 A380 NEX-3N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Sony A380

 NEX-3N A380 
IntroducedFebruary 2013August 2009More modern by 42 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Sony A380 and Sony NEX-3N

 A380 NEX-3N 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Sony A380 provides external measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3N has measurements of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Sony A380 versus Sony NEX-3N in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the A380 versus the NEX-3N.

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the A380 and NEX-3N is 68 and 89 respectively.

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes just by checking a spec sheet. The picture below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the A380 and NEX-3N.

As you can see, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You should expect to see the Sony NEX-3N to resolve greater detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged A380 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A380 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Portrait photography camera
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
66
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A380
Street photography with Sony NEX-3N
77
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
77
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A380 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Sports photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
terrible battery life (500 per charge)
54
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great battery (480 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A380 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Travel photography camera
54
good megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (500 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly display
71
great battery (480 per charge)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A380 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-3N Landscape photography info
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
terrible battery life (500 shots)
no Timelapse recording
70
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3")
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
great battery (480 CIPA)
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A380 Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-3N Vlogging factors
9
no video recording
28
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
lack of external mic support
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Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A380 and Sony NEX-3N
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A380Sony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-08-24 2013-02-25
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 372.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 16000
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Number of lenses 143 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 519g (1.14 lbs) 269g (0.59 lbs)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 67 74
DXO Color Depth rating 22.6 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.8 12.5
DXO Low light rating 614 1067
Other
Battery life 500 pictures 480 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $899 $399