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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5N 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
  • Released June 2010
  • Updated by Sony NEX-C3
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Introduced October 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-5
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-5R
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Sony NEX-3 and Sony NEX-5N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and both are sold by Sony. The sensor resolution of the NEX-3 (14MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is pretty similar and they come with the exact same sensor size (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The NEX-3 was announced 16 months before the NEX-5N which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise view of how the NEX-3 scores vs the NEX-5N in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 NEX-3 NEX-5N 

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

 NEX-5N NEX-3 
IntroducedOctober 2011June 2010Newer by 16 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

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

 NEX-3 NEX-5N 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Screen resolution920k920kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-3 features physical measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check out the Sony NEX-3 and Sony NEX-5N in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the NEX-3 compared to the NEX-5N.

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

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-3 and NEX-5N is 89 and 89 respectively.

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

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions merely by going over a spec sheet. The picture underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-3 and NEX-5N.

Clearly, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Sony NEX-5N to offer you greater detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged NEX-3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography features
72
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW files
73
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Street photography features
Sony NEX-5N Street photography features
76
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
80
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
has focus via touch
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography highlights
52
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
58
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good battery (460 shots)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Travel photography features
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography features
59
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
no Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
70
good battery (460 per charge)
has focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography factors
68
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
71
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
good battery (460 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging factors
27
has face detection focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic port
33
touchscreen enabled
offers face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
lack of microphone jack
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony NEX-5N
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2010-06-07 2011-10-03
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 area 365.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens support Sony E Sony E
Total lenses 121 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Xtra Fine LCD Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
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, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 data format MPEG-4 AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 297 grams (0.65 lbs) 269 grams (0.59 lbs)
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 All around rating 68 77
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 12.7
DXO Low light rating 830 1079
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 460 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) 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
Storage slots One One
Launch price $0 $550