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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W730

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
33
Overall
37

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W730 Key Specs

Sony NEX-3
(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
  • Announced June 2010
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-C3
Sony W730
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-224mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 22mm
  • Released January 2013
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W730 Overview

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.

Photography Glossary

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.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony W730

 NEX-3 W730 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W730 over the Sony NEX-3

 W730 NEX-3 
ReleasedJanuary 2013June 2010Newer by 31 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony W730

 NEX-3 W730 
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W730 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W730 size comparison

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

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W730 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W730 Sensor Comparison

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.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W730 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W730 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W730 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W730 as a Portrait photography camera
72
focusing manually
MP count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW files
35
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony W730 as a Street photography camera
76
has a tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has focus by touch
lighter than others (122 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Sports photography factors
Sony W730 Sports photography factors
52
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect AF
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W730 as a Travel photography camera
59
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly screen
71
lighter than others (122g)
has focus by touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3
Landscape photography with Sony W730
68
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
MP count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
39
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
Vlogging with Sony W730
27
supports face detection focusing
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic socket
34
pretty wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
lighter than others (122g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone socket
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W730 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony W730
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-06-07 2013-01-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 25 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-224mm (9.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-6.3
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Xtra Fine LCD TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Advanced Flash
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 297 gr (0.65 pounds) 122 gr (0.27 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 93 x 52 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 68 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 830 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 240 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NPFW50 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type 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 1 1
Launch pricing $0 $138