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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W550

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W550 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
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-C3
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Released July 2011
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W550 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W550, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact and both are designed by Sony. The resolution of the NEX-3 (14MP) and the W550 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the NEX-3 (APS-C) and W550 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

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The NEX-3 was unveiled 13 months before the W550 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the NEX-3 scores against the W550 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony W550

 NEX-3 W550 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Sony NEX-3

 W550 NEX-3 
ReleasedJuly 2011June 2010More recent by 13 months

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony W550

 NEX-3 W550 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony NEX-3 offers outer 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 W550 has measurements of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Check out the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W550 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the NEX-3 versus the W550.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-3 and W550 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to imagine the difference in sensor measurements only by going through a spec sheet. The graphic here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-3 and W550.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have got the exact same resolution but different sensor measurements. The NEX-3 provides the larger sensor which will make achieving bokeh simpler. The older NEX-3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography information
Sony W550 Portrait photography information
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
28
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Street photography factors
Sony W550 Street photography factors
76
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Sports photography info
Sony W550 Sports photography info
52
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Travel photography information
Sony W550 Travel photography information
59
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
65
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography info
Sony W550 Landscape photography info
68
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
42
fairly wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Vlogging information
Sony W550 Vlogging information
27
provides face detection autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone socket
29
fairly wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic socket
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony W550
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Introduced 2010-06-07 2011-07-24
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
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 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
Full resolution 4592 x 3056 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology 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 rate 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
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 data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 297 gr (0.65 pounds) 110 gr (0.24 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" 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 photographs -
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
Card slots Single -
Cost at launch $0 $119