Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX1

Below, we will be reviewing the Sony NEX-3 and Sony WX1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Ultracompact and they are both sold by Sony. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the NEX-3 (14MP) and WX1 (10MP) and the NEX-3 (APS-C) and WX1 (1/2.4") possess totally different sensor size.

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The NEX-3 was brought out 11 months after the WX1 so they are of a similar generation. Both cameras come with different body type with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony WX1 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the NEX-3 grades vs the WX1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Alpha NEX-3 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1. The entire galleries are provided at Sony NEX-3 Gallery and Sony WX1 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-3 comes with outer dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs) while the Sony WX1 has dimensions of 91mm x 52mm x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8") with a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Look at the Sony NEX-3 and Sony WX1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at the time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the NEX-3 vs the WX1.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the NEX-3 and WX1 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes simply by looking through technical specs. The pic below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-3 and WX1.

As you can tell, each of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The NEX-3 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Sony NEX-3 will render more detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The younger NEX-3 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.