Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S2100
89 Imaging
54 Features
55 Overall
54
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93 Imaging
35 Features
17 Overall
27
Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S2100 Key Specs
(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
(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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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S2100 Gallery
Here is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Alpha NEX-3 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100. The whole galleries are provided at Sony NEX-3 Gallery and Sony S2100 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony S2100
NEX-3 | S2100 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | More exact focus | ||
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Screen resolution | 920k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper screen (+690k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony S2100 over the Sony NEX-3
S2100 | NEX-3 |
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Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony S2100
NEX-3 | S2100 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | June 2010 | ![]() | January 2010 | Same generation |
Screen dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 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.
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.
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Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the NEX-3 and S2100 is 89 and 93 respectively.
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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.
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S2100 Screen and ViewFinder
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Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
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Street Comparison
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Sports Comparison
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Travel Comparison
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Landscape Comparison
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Vlogging Comparison
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S2100 Specifications
Sony Alpha NEX-3 | Sony 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 |