Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-3

Below is a extensive comparison of the Sony A550 and Sony NEX-3, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are manufactured by Sony. The resolution of the A550 (14MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is very well matched and both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The A550 was released 6 months prior to the NEX-3 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a short introduction of how the A550 matches up against the NEX-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 and Sony Alpha NEX-3. The complete galleries are viewable at Sony A550 Gallery and Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony A550 has got outer measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Look at the Sony A550 and Sony NEX-3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the A550 and the NEX-3.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A550 and NEX-3 is 63 and 89 respectively.

More often than not, it is very tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements purely by looking at a spec sheet. The graphic here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the A550 and NEX-3.

Clearly, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the identical resolution therefore you should expect similar quality of photographs though you would want to factor the production date of the products into consideration.