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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
69
Features
57
Overall
64

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1 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
  • Announced June 2010
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-C3
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Released February 2013
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Sony NEX-3 and Sony RX1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both created by Sony. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the NEX-3 (14MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the NEX-3 (APS-C) and RX1 (Full frame) offer totally different sensor size.

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The NEX-3 was unveiled 3 years prior to the RX1 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise summation of how the NEX-3 grades versus the RX1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony RX1

 NEX-3 RX1 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Sony NEX-3

 RX1 NEX-3 
ReleasedFebruary 2013June 2010More modern by 32 months
Display resolution1229k920kSharper display (+309k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony RX1

 NEX-3 RX1 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony NEX-3 comes with physical dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs) and the Sony RX1 has measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") along with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Compare the Sony NEX-3 and Sony RX1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the NEX-3 versus the RX1.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-3 and RX1 is 89 and 79 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes only by viewing technical specs. The picture below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-3 and RX1.

As you have seen, each of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The NEX-3 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony RX1 will result in greater detail having an extra 10MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics more aggressively. The more aged NEX-3 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography info
Sony RX1 Portrait photography info
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
81
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/4,000 seconds)
decent MP (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony NEX-3
Street photography with Sony RX1
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
66
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
great ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
more heavy than average (482g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Sports photography features
Sony RX1 Sports photography features
52
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
53
decent MP (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
can't change focal length (35mm)
low fps (5.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
bad battery power (270 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Travel photography features
Sony RX1 Travel photography features
59
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
62
decent MP (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery power (270 CIPA)
more heavy than average (482 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Landscape photography camera
68
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
64
focusing manually
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
no image stabilization
bad battery power (270 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
Vlogging with Sony RX1
27
supports face detect focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic socket
34
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
comes with face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone support
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than average (482g)
Photography Glossary

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony RX1
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-06-07 2013-02-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35mm (1x)
Highest aperture - f/2.0-22.0
Available lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Xtra Fine LCD Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/4000s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 297g (0.65 lb) 482g (1.06 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 68 93
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 25.1
DXO Dynamic range score 12.0 14.3
DXO Low light score 830 2534
Other
Battery life 330 images 270 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NPFW50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $0 $2,798