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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W530

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
21
Overall
30

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W530 Key Specs

Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
Sony W530
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 113g - 93 x 53 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2011
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W530 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Sony NEX-3 and Sony W530, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Ultracompact and both of them are designed by Sony. The resolution of the NEX-3 (14MP) and the W530 (14MP) is fairly close but the NEX-3 (APS-C) and W530 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

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The NEX-3 was brought out 7 months prior to the W530 and they are of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W530 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summation of how the NEX-3 matches up versus the W530 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony W530

 NEX-3 W530 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W530 over the Sony NEX-3

 W530 NEX-3 
LaunchedJanuary 2011June 2010Newer by 7 months

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony W530

 NEX-3 W530 
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W530 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-3 has outer 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 W530 has dimensions of 93mm x 53mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 113 grams (0.25 lbs).

Contrast the Sony NEX-3 and Sony W530 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the NEX-3 against the W530.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W530 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-3 and W530 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W530 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W530 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by looking through specs. The image here will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-3 and W530.

As you can plainly see, both cameras enjoy the same exact resolution but different sensor dimensions. The NEX-3 comes with the larger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow DOF simpler. The more aged NEX-3 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W530 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W530 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W530 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W530 as a Portrait photography camera
72
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW formats
28
good resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony W530 as a Street photography camera
76
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
48
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Sports photography highlights
Sony W530 Sports photography highlights
52
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
26
good resolution (14MP)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony NEX-3
Travel photography with Sony W530
59
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
65
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3
Landscape photography with Sony W530
68
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3")
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
33
quite wide (26mm)
good resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Vlogging features
Sony W530 Vlogging features
27
provides face detect focus
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone port
26
quite wide (26mm)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have microphone port
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W530 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony W530
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Released 2010-06-07 2011-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz 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 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Available lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Xtra Fine LCD Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 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) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 297g (0.65 lb) 113g (0.25 lb)
Dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 93 x 53 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
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 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $0 $269