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Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Later Model is Sony A560
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
  • Released June 2010
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-C3
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Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Sony A500 versus Sony NEX-3, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are sold by Sony. The resolution of the A500 (12MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is fairly close and both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The A500 was released 9 months before the NEX-3 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a short view of how the A500 matches up vs the NEX-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony NEX-3

 A500 NEX-3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony A500

 NEX-3 A500 
ReleasedJune 2010August 2009More recent by 9 months
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony NEX-3

 A500 NEX-3 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera often, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Sony A500 has physical dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Check out the Sony A500 versus Sony NEX-3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the A500 and the NEX-3.

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A500 and NEX-3 is 63 and 89 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to imagine the difference in sensor measurements just by viewing specs. The photograph below might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the A500 and NEX-3.

As you can plainly see, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You should anticipate the Sony NEX-3 to provide you with more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos more aggressively. The older A500 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 Portrait photography info
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography info
63
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
72
has manual focus
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 Street photography features
Sony NEX-3 Street photography features
74
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
76
screen tilts
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography info
51
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
low fps (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery (520 per charge)
52
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 Travel photography details
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography details
43
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (520 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
59
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography factors
60
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (520 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
68
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
27
offers face detection focusing
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone support
Photography Glossary

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony NEX-3
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-08-27 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4272 x 2848 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Amount of lenses 143 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE 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
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 630g (1.39 pounds) 297g (0.65 pounds)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 64 68
DXO Color Depth rating 21.8 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 12.0
DXO Low light rating 772 830
Other
Battery life 520 pictures 330 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $638 $0