Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S980
89 Imaging
54 Features
55 Overall
54
94 Imaging
34 Features
17 Overall
27
Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S980 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
- Successor is Sony NEX-C3
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 3200
- 1280 x 720 video
- 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
- 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
- Announced February 2009
Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S980 Overview
In this write-up, we will be comparing the Sony NEX-3 versus Sony S980, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both built by Sony. The image resolution of the NEX-3 (14MP) and the S980 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the NEX-3 (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthThe NEX-3 was released 16 months later than the S980 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.
Before we go in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the NEX-3 scores vs the S980 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.
Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S980 Gallery
Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Alpha NEX-3 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980. The complete galleries are viewable at Sony NEX-3 Gallery and Sony S980 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony S980
NEX-3 | S980 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | June 2010 | February 2009 | Fresher by 16 months | |
Screen type | Tilting | Fixed | Tilting screen | |
Screen sizing | 3" | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") | |
Screen resolution | 920k | 230k | Sharper screen (+690k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony NEX-3
S980 | NEX-3 |
---|
Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony S980
NEX-3 | S980 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | Very accurate focusing | |||
Selfie screen | Neither comes with selfie screen | |||
Touch friendly screen | Neither comes with Touch friendly screen |
Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Sony NEX-3 comes with physical 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) whilst the Sony S980 has specifications of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).
Check out the Sony NEX-3 versus Sony S980 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the NEX-3 against the S980.
Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-3 and S980 is 89 and 94 respectively.
Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison
Typically, it is hard to see the difference between sensor sizing merely by checking specs. The visual below will give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-3 and S980.
As you can plainly see, both of those cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The NEX-3 featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Sony NEX-3 will resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The newer NEX-3 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.
Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Sony NEX-3 vs Sony S980 Specifications
Sony Alpha NEX-3 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Sony | Sony |
Model type | Sony Alpha NEX-3 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 |
Category | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Small Sensor Compact |
Revealed | 2010-06-07 | 2009-02-17 |
Physical type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | Bionz | - |
Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | APS-C | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 23.4 x 15.6mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor area | 365.0mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 14MP | 12MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4592 x 3056 | 4000 x 3000 |
Max native ISO | 12800 | 3200 |
Lowest native ISO | 200 | 80 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection AF | ||
Contract detection AF | ||
Phase detection AF | ||
Total focus points | 25 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Sony E | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | - | 33-132mm (4.0x) |
Highest aperture | - | f/3.3-5.2 |
Macro focusing range | - | 10cm |
Available lenses | 121 | - |
Crop factor | 1.5 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Tilting | Fixed Type |
Screen sizing | 3 inches | 2.7 inches |
Resolution of screen | 920k dots | 230k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch screen | ||
Screen tech | TFT Xtra Fine LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 30 seconds | 2 seconds |
Highest shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/1600 seconds |
Continuous shooting rate | 7.0 frames per sec | 1.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | 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 |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Highest flash synchronize | 1/160 seconds | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1280x720 |
Video file format | MPEG-4 | Motion JPEG |
Microphone 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 | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 297 grams (0.65 lbs) | 167 grams (0.37 lbs) |
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 All around 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 photographs | - |
Type of battery | Battery Pack | - |
Battery ID | NPFW50 | - |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo | Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Launch price | $0 | $300 |