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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H55

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H55 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
  • Launched June 2010
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-C3
Sony H55
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 103 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched June 2010
Photography Glossary

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H55 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Sony NEX-3 and Sony H55, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are built by Sony. The resolution of the NEX-3 (14MP) and the H55 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the NEX-3 (APS-C) and H55 (1/2.3") come with different sensor size.

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The NEX-3 was manufactured very close to the H55 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony H55 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the NEX-3 scores vs the H55 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony H55

 NEX-3 H55 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony H55 over the Sony NEX-3

 H55 NEX-3 

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony H55

 NEX-3 H55 
LaunchedJune 2010June 2010Same generation
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H55 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony NEX-3 provides outer 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 H55 has measurements of 103mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony NEX-3 and Sony H55 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using during that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the NEX-3 versus the H55.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H55 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-3 and H55 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H55 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H55 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizes only by going through specs. The image below may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-3 and H55.

All in all, both the cameras offer the same exact resolution albeit different sensor sizes. The NEX-3 features the bigger sensor which is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H55 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography information
Sony H55 Portrait photography information
72
has manual focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
28
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Street photography highlights
Sony H55 Street photography highlights
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Sports photography information
Sony H55 Sports photography information
52
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony NEX-3
Travel photography with Sony H55
59
resolution is good (14MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
67
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography advice
Sony H55 Landscape photography advice
68
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse mode
42
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Vlogging information
Sony H55 Vlogging information
27
features face detect focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic socket
28
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone support
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony H55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony H55
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-06-07 2010-06-16
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz 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 area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Slow Syncro, Off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 297 gr (0.65 lbs) 200 gr (0.44 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 103 x 58 x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 68 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 830 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $0 $235