Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W290

On this page, we are contrasting the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W290, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are created by Sony. The sensor resolution of the NEX-3 (14MP) and the W290 (12MP) is very similar but the NEX-3 (APS-C) and W290 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The NEX-3 was brought out 16 months after the W290 making them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a concise summary of how the NEX-3 matches up against the W290 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Sony Alpha NEX-3 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290. The entire galleries are provided at Sony NEX-3 Gallery & Sony W290 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-3 comes with 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) while the Sony W290 has sizing of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Contrast the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W290 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. The following is a front view size comparison of the NEX-3 and the W290.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the NEX-3 and W290 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Usually, it is very tough to see the gap between sensor sizes just by reviewing specifications. The picture below may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-3 and W290.

Plainly, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The NEX-3 due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Sony NEX-3 will offer greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images more aggressively. The more recent NEX-3 will have an advantage in sensor innovation.