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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5 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
  • Revealed June 2010
  • New Model is Sony NEX-C3
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-5N
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Following is a in-depth review of the Sony NEX-3 versus Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and they are both produced by Sony. The resolution of the NEX-3 (14MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras posses the same sensor size (APS-C).

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The NEX-3 was announced at a similar time to the NEX-5 and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the NEX-3 matches up vs the NEX-5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony NEX-5

 NEX-3 NEX-5 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Sony NEX-3

 NEX-5 NEX-3 

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony NEX-5

 NEX-3 NEX-5 
LaunchedJune 2010June 2010Similar generation
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Screen resolution920k920kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-3 offers external dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5 has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

See the Sony NEX-3 versus Sony NEX-5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the NEX-3 compared to the NEX-5.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the NEX-3 and NEX-5 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizes purely by looking at a spec sheet. The image below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-3 and NEX-5.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same megapixels and you should expect similar quality of files but you would want to consider the release date of the products into consideration.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography information
72
manual focus
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW files
72
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Street photography information
Sony NEX-5 Street photography information
76
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
76
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Sports photography camera
52
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
no image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
52
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Travel photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography factors
59
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly display
59
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography features
68
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3")
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
68
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging factors
27
includes face detect focus
does not have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic support
28
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have microphone support
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony NEX-5
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2010-06-07 2010-06-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless 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 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mount Sony E Sony E
Available lenses 121 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max 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 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 AVCHD
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 297g (0.65 lbs) 287g (0.63 lbs)
Physical dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 68 69
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 22.2
DXO Dynamic range score 12.0 12.2
DXO Low light score 830 796
Other
Battery life 330 photos 330 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NPFW50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $0 $599