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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S2100

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S2100 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
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-C3
Sony S2100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-105mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 61 x 27mm
  • Announced January 2010
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S2100 Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S2100, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are built by Sony. The image resolution of the NEX-3 (14MP) and the S2100 (12MP) is pretty close but the NEX-3 (APS-C) and S2100 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The NEX-3 was introduced 6 months after the S2100 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras have different body design with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S2100 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the NEX-3 matches up versus the S2100 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony S2100

 NEX-3 S2100 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S2100 over the Sony NEX-3

 S2100 NEX-3 

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony S2100

 NEX-3 S2100 
AnnouncedJune 2010January 2010Same generation
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S2100 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Sony NEX-3 provides outside 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) whilst the Sony S2100 has specifications of 98mm x 61mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S2100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the NEX-3 and the S2100.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S2100 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the NEX-3 and S2100 is 89 and 93 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S2100 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S2100 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to see the gap in sensor sizes simply by looking through technical specs. The image here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-3 and S2100.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The NEX-3 with its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony NEX-3 will result in more detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S2100 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S2100 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S2100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony S2100 as a Portrait photography camera
72
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
21
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony S2100 as a Street photography camera
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
46
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Sports photography information
Sony S2100 Sports photography information
52
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
17
low max shutter speed (1/1,200s)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony NEX-3
Travel photography with Sony S2100
59
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
50
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography factors
Sony S2100 Landscape photography factors
68
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
27
screen size is decent (3 inch)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S2100 as a Vlogging camera
27
comes with face detection autofocus
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic support
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have mic socket
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S2100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony S2100
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2010-06-07 2010-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 33-105mm (3.2x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 1 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1200 secs
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 lb) 167 gr (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 98 x 61 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NPFW50 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, optional SD, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $0 $0