Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W730

Its time to look a little more closely at the Sony NEX-3 and Sony W730, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both sold by Sony. The image resolution of the NEX-3 (14MP) and the W730 (16MP) is very well matched but the NEX-3 (APS-C) and W730 (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The NEX-3 was released 3 years earlier than the W730 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W730 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the NEX-3 grades against the W730 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Sony Alpha NEX-3 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730. The complete galleries are viewable at Sony NEX-3 Gallery and Sony W730 Gallery.

If you're aiming to travel with your camera, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Sony NEX-3 has got outside measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs) whilst the Sony W730 has proportions of 93mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check the Sony NEX-3 and Sony W730 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the NEX-3 and the W730.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-3 and W730 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Sometimes, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions only by looking at a spec sheet. The picture here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-3 and W730.

As you can see, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The NEX-3 featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Sony W730 will resolve more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged NEX-3 is going to be behind in sensor technology.