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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony HX400V

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony HX400V 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
  • New Model is Sony NEX-C3
Sony HX400V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 660g - 130 x 93 x 103mm
  • Released February 2014
  • Previous Model is Sony HX300
Photography Glossary

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony HX400V Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Sony NEX-3 and Sony HX400V, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both produced by Sony. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the NEX-3 (14MP) and HX400V (20MP) and the NEX-3 (APS-C) and HX400V (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The NEX-3 was brought out 4 years earlier than the HX400V which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the NEX-3 scores against the HX400V with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony HX400V

 NEX-3 HX400V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX400V over the Sony NEX-3

 HX400V NEX-3 
ReleasedFebruary 2014June 2010Newer by 44 months
Screen resolution921k920kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony HX400V

 NEX-3 HX400V 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony HX400V Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony NEX-3 provides external dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs) while the Sony HX400V has measurements of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Compare the Sony NEX-3 and Sony HX400V in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the NEX-3 against the HX400V.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony HX400V size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the NEX-3 and HX400V is 89 and 62 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony HX400V top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony HX400V Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions only by going over specifications. The image here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-3 and HX400V.

Plainly, the two cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The NEX-3 due to its bigger sensor will make getting bokeh simpler and the Sony HX400V will deliver more detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged NEX-3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony HX400V sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony HX400V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony HX400V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography factors
Sony HX400V Portrait photography factors
72
has manual focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection focus
saves RAW files
51
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
offers face detect focusing
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Street photography camera
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
50
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than average in class (660g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony NEX-3
Sports photography with Sony HX400V
52
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
55
incredible zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
offers tracking focus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Travel photography camera
59
resolution is good (14MP)
no Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
53
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (1200mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (660 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography info
Sony HX400V Landscape photography info
68
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
no Timelapse function
49
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Vlogging factors
Sony HX400V Vlogging factors
27
features face detection focus
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone jack
29
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone jack
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
more heavy than average in class (660 grams)
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony HX400V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony HX400V
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-06-07 2014-02-12
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Total lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 8.50 m (ISO Auto)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 297g (0.65 lbs) 660g (1.46 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 130 x 93 x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images 300 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $0 $448