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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX10 III

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III front
Portability
53
Imaging
52
Features
77
Overall
62

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX10 III 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
  • Launched June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-C3
Sony RX10 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1051g - 133 x 94 x 127mm
  • Released March 2016
  • Succeeded the Sony RX10 II
  • New Model is Sony RX10 IV
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX10 III Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX10 III, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom and both are created by Sony. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the NEX-3 (14MP) and RX10 III (20MP) and the NEX-3 (APS-C) and RX10 III (1") feature different sensor size.

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The NEX-3 was launched 6 years earlier than the RX10 III which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX10 III being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple overview of how the NEX-3 matches up vs the RX10 III in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony RX10 III

 NEX-3 RX10 III 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 III over the Sony NEX-3

 RX10 III NEX-3 
ReleasedMarch 2016June 2010More modern by 70 months
Display resolution1229k920kClearer display (+309k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony RX10 III

 NEX-3 RX10 III 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX10 III Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Sony NEX-3 features exterior measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs) whilst the Sony RX10 III has specifications of 133mm x 94mm x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0") along with a weight of 1051 grams (2.32 lbs).

Examine the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX10 III in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the NEX-3 and the RX10 III.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX10 III size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-3 and RX10 III is 89 and 53 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX10 III top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX10 III Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to picture the gap in sensor sizes purely by seeing specs. The picture here might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-3 and RX10 III.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The NEX-3 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Sony RX10 III will produce extra detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged NEX-3 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX10 III sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX10 III Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX10 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography factors
Sony RX10 III Portrait photography factors
72
focusing manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
71
focusing manually
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Street photography details
Sony RX10 III Street photography details
76
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
64
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
heavier than competitors (1,051 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX10 III as a Sports photography camera
52
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
70
long zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
better than average battery life (420 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Travel photography highlights
Sony RX10 III Travel photography highlights
59
good resolution (14 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly display
55
better than average battery life (420 shots)
environment proofing
MP count good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors (1,051 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography factors
Sony RX10 III Landscape photography factors
68
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
63
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
better than average battery life (420 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
Vlogging with Sony RX10 III
27
comes with face detect focusing
does not contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone jack
28
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external mic port
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
does not contain selfie friendly display
heavier than competitors (1,051g)
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX10 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony RX10 III
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-06-07 2016-03-29
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4592 x 3056 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
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 25
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-600mm (25.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.4-4.0
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames/s 14.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 297 grams (0.65 lbs) 1051 grams (2.32 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 133 x 94 x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 68 70
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 23.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 12.6
DXO Low light rating 830 472
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 420 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $0 $1,398