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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1R

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
58
Overall
65

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1R 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
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
Sony RX1R
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Newer Model is Sony RX1R II
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1R Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Sony NEX-3 versus Sony RX1R, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both produced by Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the NEX-3 (14MP) and RX1R (24MP) and the NEX-3 (APS-C) and RX1R (Full frame) feature different sensor sizing.

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The NEX-3 was revealed 4 years before the RX1R and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX1R being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the NEX-3 matches up versus the RX1R with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony RX1R

 NEX-3 RX1R 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony RX1R over the Sony NEX-3

 RX1R NEX-3 
AnnouncedJune 2013June 2010Fresher by 37 months
Display resolution1229k920kCrisper display (+309k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony RX1R

 NEX-3 RX1R 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1R Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Sony NEX-3 has got outside measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs) whilst the Sony RX1R has proportions of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Look at the Sony NEX-3 versus Sony RX1R in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the NEX-3 vs the RX1R.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1R size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-3 and RX1R is 89 and 79 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1R top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1R Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing just by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph here might give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the NEX-3 and RX1R.

Clearly, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The NEX-3 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony RX1R will show greater detail because of its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older NEX-3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1R sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1R Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography information
Sony RX1R Portrait photography information
72
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW files
82
you can focus manually
above average flash sync (1/4,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony NEX-3
Street photography with Sony RX1R
76
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
66
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
above average high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Sports photography features
Sony RX1R Sports photography features
52
megapixel count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect AF
53
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
fixed focal length (35mm)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (270 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Travel photography advice
Sony RX1R Travel photography advice
59
megapixel count decent (14MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
62
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
flash built-in
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (270 CIPA)
heavier than competition in class (482 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX1R as a Landscape photography camera
68
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
66
you can focus manually
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
no anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (270 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX1R as a Vlogging camera
27
features face detection focusing
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic support
34
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
provides face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (482 grams)
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony RX1R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony RX1R
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-06-07 2013-06-26
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35mm (1x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.0
Total lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Xtra Fine LCD Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/4000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 lbs) 482g (1.06 lbs)
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 91
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score 12.0 13.6
DXO Low light score 830 2537
Other
Battery life 330 shots 270 shots
Battery type 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
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $0 $2,798