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Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed December 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A100
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
  • Announced June 2010
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-C3
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Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony NEX-3

 A550 NEX-3 
Display resolution922k920kSharper display (+2k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony A550

 NEX-3 A550 

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony NEX-3

 A550 NEX-3 
AnnouncedDecember 2009June 2010Similar generation
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

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

Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

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.

Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Portrait photography camera
72
manual focus
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW files
72
focusing manually
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography details
Sony NEX-3 Street photography details
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
76
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Sports photography camera
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
terrible battery pack (480 CIPA)
52
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography highlights
52
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (480 CIPA)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
59
good resolution (14MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography highlights
66
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
terrible battery pack (480 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
68
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging advice
9
lack of video recording
27
supports face detect autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone port
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Sony A550 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony NEX-3
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-12-09 2010-06-07
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Available lenses 143 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 922 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options 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
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 632 grams (1.39 lbs) 297 grams (0.65 lbs)
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 66 68
DXO Color Depth rating 21.9 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.8 12.0
DXO Low light rating 807 830
Other
Battery life 480 shots 330 shots
Battery form 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 feature
Storage media SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $749 $0