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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX100 V

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V front
Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
80
Overall
63

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX100 V 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
  • Announced June 2010
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-C3
Sony RX100 V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released October 2016
  • Older Model is Sony RX100 IV
  • Successor is Sony RX100 VI
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX100 V Overview

Lets look much closer at the Sony NEX-3 and Sony RX100 V, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both are designed by Sony. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the NEX-3 (14MP) and RX100 V (20MP) and the NEX-3 (APS-C) and RX100 V (1") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The NEX-3 was unveiled 7 years earlier than the RX100 V and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 V being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a short overview of how the NEX-3 grades versus the RX100 V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony RX100 V

 NEX-3 RX100 V 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 V over the Sony NEX-3

 RX100 V NEX-3 
ReleasedOctober 2016June 2010Fresher by 77 months
Display resolution1229k920kClearer display (+309k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony RX100 V

 NEX-3 RX100 V 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX100 V Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony NEX-3 has external dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs) and the Sony RX100 V has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs).

Check out the Sony NEX-3 and Sony RX100 V in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the NEX-3 vs the RX100 V.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX100 V size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the NEX-3 and RX100 V is 89 and 89 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX100 V top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX100 V Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizing merely by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph here will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-3 and RX100 V.

Clearly, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The NEX-3 having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony RX100 V will provide extra detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images far more aggressively. The older NEX-3 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX100 V sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX100 V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX100 V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 V
72
you can focus manually
decent MP (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW files
66
has manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
features face detection focus
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Street photography advice
Sony RX100 V Street photography advice
76
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors (299 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 V as a Sports photography camera
52
decent MP (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
70
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
high max fps (24.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
features tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect auto focus
low battery pack (220 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Travel photography factors
Sony RX100 V Travel photography factors
59
decent MP (14 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly screen
80
lighter than competitors (299g)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
fairly wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography highlights
Sony RX100 V Landscape photography highlights
68
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
70
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low battery pack (220 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Vlogging info
Sony RX100 V Vlogging info
27
provides face detect focus
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
81
fairly wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competitors (299 grams)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX100 V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony RX100 V
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-06-07 2016-10-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 116.2mm²
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
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3056 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 25 315
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Max aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 24.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 10.20 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 297 gr (0.65 lbs) 299 gr (0.66 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 68 70
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 12.4
DXO Low light rating 830 586
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 220 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $0 $998