Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-3

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.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 and Sony Alpha NEX-3. The complete galleries are available at Sony A500 Gallery and Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.