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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H20

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 front
Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
29
Overall
31

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H20 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
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
Sony H20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 38-380mm (F3.5-4.4) lens
  • 250g - 107 x 69 x 47mm
  • Launched May 2009
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H20 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Sony NEX-3 and Sony H20, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are produced by Sony. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the NEX-3 (14MP) and H20 (10MP) and the NEX-3 (APS-C) and H20 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The NEX-3 was manufactured 13 months after the H20 making them a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony H20 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the NEX-3 grades against the H20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony H20

 NEX-3 H20 
LaunchedJune 2010May 2009More modern by 13 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony H20 over the Sony NEX-3

 H20 NEX-3 

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony H20

 NEX-3 H20 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H20 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-3 provides exterior dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs) and the Sony H20 has sizing of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

See the Sony NEX-3 and Sony H20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the NEX-3 versus the H20.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H20 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the NEX-3 and H20 is 89 and 87 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H20 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H20 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes only by reading through specs. The pic below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-3 and H20.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The NEX-3 due to its larger sensor will make getting bokeh simpler and the Sony NEX-3 will give greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The younger NEX-3 will have an edge in sensor tech.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H20 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H20 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography advice
Sony H20 Portrait photography advice
72
has manual focus
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
27
has manual focus
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Street photography features
Sony H20 Street photography features
76
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
51
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than others in class (250 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony NEX-3
Sports photography with Sony H20
52
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
26
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony H20 as a Travel photography camera
59
resolution is good (14MP)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
51
has built in flash
very long zoom (380mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than others in class (250g)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography highlights
Sony H20 Landscape photography highlights
68
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
36
has manual focus
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony H20 as a Vlogging camera
27
includes face detection focusing
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
23
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone support
more heavy than others in class (250g)
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony H20
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-06-07 2009-05-14
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 38-380mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-4.4
Macro focus distance - 2cm
Total lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4 -
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 297 grams (0.65 lb) 250 grams (0.55 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 107 x 69 x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 68 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 830 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NPFW50 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $0 $249