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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
52
Overall
55

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs

Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-C3
Sony NEX-3N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 62 x 35mm
  • Released February 2013
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-F3
  • Successor is Sony a5000
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

Let's look much closer at the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-3N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and both are manufactured by Sony. The resolution of the NEX-3 (14MP) and the NEX-3N (16MP) is pretty well matched and they enjoy the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The NEX-3 was launched 3 years earlier than the NEX-3N and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summation of how the NEX-3 grades vs the NEX-3N in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony NEX-3N

 NEX-3 NEX-3N 
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Sony NEX-3

 NEX-3N NEX-3 
ReleasedFebruary 2013June 2010More recent by 33 months

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony NEX-3N

 NEX-3 NEX-3N 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-3 enjoys outside measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3N has sizing of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-3N in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the NEX-3 against the NEX-3N.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the NEX-3 and NEX-3N is 89 and 89 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to imagine the gap between sensor measurements simply by reading through specs. The visual below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-3 and NEX-3N.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Sony NEX-3N to give you extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older NEX-3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-3N Portrait photography highlights
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
66
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-3N Street photography factors
76
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
77
has a tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-3N Sports photography highlights
52
good resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
53
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery (480 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Travel photography camera
59
good resolution (14MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
71
better than average battery (480 shots)
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-3N Landscape photography highlights
68
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse mode
70
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (480 shots)
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Vlogging features
Sony NEX-3N Vlogging features
27
comes with face detect focus
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic socket
28
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
missing external mic support
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony NEX-3N
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2010-06-07 2013-02-25
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3056 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 16000
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E Sony E
Number of lenses 121 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 297 gr (0.65 lbs) 269 gr (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 68 74
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 12.5
DXO Low light rating 830 1067
Other
Battery life 330 images 480 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $0 $399