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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S950

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S950 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
  • Announced June 2010
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-C3
Sony S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Introduced February 2009
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S950 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S950, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are created by Sony. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the NEX-3 (14MP) and S950 (10MP) and the NEX-3 (APS-C) and S950 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The NEX-3 was launched 16 months after the S950 making them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S950 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick summation of how the NEX-3 scores vs the S950 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony S950

 NEX-3 S950 
IntroducedJune 2010February 2009Newer by 16 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Sony NEX-3

 S950 NEX-3 

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony S950

 NEX-3 S950 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S950 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony NEX-3 has got physical 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) and the Sony S950 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S950 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the NEX-3 vs the S950.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S950 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-3 and S950 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S950 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S950 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by looking through technical specs. The pic underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-3 and S950.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The NEX-3 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving bokeh easier and the Sony NEX-3 will provide you with extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images way more aggressively. The more recent NEX-3 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S950 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography info
Sony S950 Portrait photography info
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focus
exports RAW files
26
manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony S950 as a Street photography camera
76
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
56
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Sports photography features
Sony S950 Sports photography features
52
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
24
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Travel photography info
Sony S950 Travel photography info
59
MP count good (14 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
50
built-in flash
no Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography factors
Sony S950 Landscape photography factors
68
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
31
manual focus
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Vlogging details
Sony S950 Vlogging details
27
has face detect focus
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone support
9
no video recording
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony S950
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-06-07 2009-02-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range - 10cm
Number of lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
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) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
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") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 68 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 830 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NPFW50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $0 $130