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Sony A560 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
64
Imaging
54
Features
78
Overall
63
Sony Alpha DSLR-A560 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Sony A560 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Sony A560
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed August 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A500
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
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Updated by Sony NEX-C3
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Sony A560 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Sony A560 vs Sony NEX-3, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are offered by Sony. The resolution of the A560 (14MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The A560 was introduced 3 months later than the NEX-3 so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras have different body design with the Sony A560 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a full comparison, here is a quick view of how the A560 scores against the NEX-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A560 over the Sony NEX-3

 A560 NEX-3 
Display resolution922k920kCrisper display (+2k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony A560

 NEX-3 A560 

Common features in the Sony A560 and Sony NEX-3

 A560 NEX-3 
RevealedAugust 2010June 2010Similar age
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Sony A560 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony A560 features outside dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A560 vs Sony NEX-3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the A560 versus the NEX-3.

Sony A560 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A560 and NEX-3 is 64 and 89 respectively.

Sony A560 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Sony A560 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements purely by looking at technical specs. The photograph here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the A560 and NEX-3.

As you can tell, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same MP so you can expect similar quality of pictures but you may want to take the age of the products into consideration.

Sony A560 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Sony A560 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A560 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A560 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography features
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
72
manual focus
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A560 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Street photography factors
75
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A560
Sports photography with Sony NEX-3
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
has phase detect autofocus
low fps (5.0 fps)
52
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A560
Travel photography with Sony NEX-3
60
good battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
59
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A560 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Landscape photography camera
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (1,050 per charge)
has double storage slots
does not have Time Lapse mode
68
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A560 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging advice
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic port
display is not selfie friendly
27
provides face detection focus
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic socket
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Sony A560 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A560 and Sony NEX-3
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A560Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A560 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2010-08-24 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3056 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 15 25
Cross type focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Number of lenses 143 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 922 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change 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
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 599g (1.32 lbs) 297g (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 70 68
DXO Color Depth rating 22.5 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 12.0
DXO Low light rating 817 830
Other
Battery life 1050 photographs 330 photographs
Style of battery 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 type SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Dual 1
Cost at launch $650 $0