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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W830

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830 front
Portability
96
Imaging
45
Features
26
Overall
37

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W830 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
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-C3
Sony W830
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 23mm
  • Revealed January 2014
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W830 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W830, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact and both of them are offered by Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the NEX-3 (14MP) and W830 (20MP) and the NEX-3 (APS-C) and W830 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The NEX-3 was released 4 years prior to the W830 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W830 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the NEX-3 grades against the W830 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony W830

 NEX-3 W830 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W830 over the Sony NEX-3

 W830 NEX-3 
RevealedJanuary 2014June 2010More recent by 43 months

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony W830

 NEX-3 W830 
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W830 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-3 features physical 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 W830 has dimensions of 93mm x 52mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") having a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check out the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W830 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the NEX-3 against the W830.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W830 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-3 and W830 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W830 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W830 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to visualise the difference in sensor measurements merely by researching technical specs. The photograph here might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-3 and W830.

As you have seen, both of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The NEX-3 because of its bigger sensor will make getting bokeh less difficult and the Sony W830 will render greater detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs more aggressively. The older NEX-3 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W830 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W830 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W830 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
Portrait photography with Sony W830
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
38
megapixel count decent (20MP)
provides face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Street photography factors
Sony W830 Street photography factors
76
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Sports photography advice
Sony W830 Sports photography advice
52
good resolution (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Travel photography highlights
Sony W830 Travel photography highlights
59
good resolution (14MP)
does not have Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
67
megapixel count decent (20MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W830 as a Landscape photography camera
68
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse function
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
Vlogging with Sony W830
27
offers face detect autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone port
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic support
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony W830 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony W830
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Introduced 2010-06-07 2014-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 14MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 5152 x 3864
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 25 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-6.3
Number of lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Xtra Fine LCD Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 2.80 m (with ISO auto)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto / Flash On / Slow Synchro / Flash Off / Advanced Flash
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4 H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 lb) 122 gr (0.27 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 93 x 52 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9")
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 -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo, microSD/microSDHC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $0 $128