Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-3N

On this page, we will be reviewing the Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-3N, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are offered by Sony. The image resolution of the A580 (16MP) and the NEX-3N (16MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The A580 was manufactured 21 months earlier than the NEX-3N which makes them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summation of how the A580 grades versus the NEX-3N in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 and Sony Alpha NEX-3N. The entire galleries are provided at Sony A580 Gallery and Sony NEX-3N Gallery.

If you're intending to carry your camera, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony A580 features outside dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3N has dimensions of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Sony A580 vs Sony NEX-3N in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the A580 compared to the NEX-3N.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the A580 and NEX-3N is 64 and 89 respectively.

Generally, its difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizing simply by checking out technical specs. The visual here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the A580 and NEX-3N.

As you can tell, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same exact megapixels so you should expect comparable quality of files however you may want to consider the production date of the cameras into account. The older A580 will be behind in sensor tech.