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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A6500

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A6500 Key Specs

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
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-C3
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Launched October 2016
  • Succeeded the Sony A6300
Photography Glossary

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A6500 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Sony NEX-3 and Sony A6500, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and both of them are sold by Sony. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the NEX-3 (14MP) and A6500 (24MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The NEX-3 was unveiled 7 years earlier than the A6500 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the NEX-3 grades vs the A6500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony A6500

 NEX-3 A6500 

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Sony NEX-3

 A6500 NEX-3 
LaunchedOctober 2016June 2010More modern by 77 months
Display resolution922k920kCrisper display (+2k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony A6500

 NEX-3 A6500 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-3 offers outside dimensions 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 A6500 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

See the Sony NEX-3 and Sony A6500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use during that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the NEX-3 against the A6500.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-3 and A6500 is 89 and 81 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to see the difference between sensor sizes merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The image below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-3 and A6500.

As you can see, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Sony A6500 to offer you greater detail having an extra 10MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more aged NEX-3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A6500 Portrait photography highlights
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
80
focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Street photography camera
76
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
85
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
offers focus via touch
weather proof
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony NEX-3
Sports photography with Sony A6500
52
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
77
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking focus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect AF
terrible battery pack (350 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Travel photography info
Sony A6500 Travel photography info
59
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
74
weather proof
has bluetooth
offers focus via touch
good resolution (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
terrible battery pack (350 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3
Landscape photography with Sony A6500
68
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
does not have Timelapse recording
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
terrible battery pack (350 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A6500 as a Vlogging camera
27
comes with face detect focus
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone jack
39
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes mic support
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony A6500
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Alpha a6500
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2010-06-07 2016-10-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3056 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 25 425
Lens
Lens support Sony E Sony E
Available lenses 121 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
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 297 gr (0.65 lbs) 453 gr (1.00 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 68 85
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 24.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 13.7
DXO Low light rating 830 1405
Other
Battery life 330 photos 350 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Price at release $0 $1,298