Clicky

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX30

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX30 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
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-C3
Sony WX30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Released July 2011
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX30 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX30, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Sony. The resolution of the NEX-3 (14MP) and the WX30 (16MP) is very comparable but the NEX-3 (APS-C) and WX30 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizing.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The NEX-3 was introduced 13 months earlier than the WX30 making them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony WX30 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short view of how the NEX-3 grades against the WX30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony WX30

 NEX-3 WX30 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony WX30 over the Sony NEX-3

 WX30 NEX-3 
ReleasedJuly 2011June 2010Newer by 13 months
Display resolution922k920kSharper display (+2k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony WX30

 NEX-3 WX30 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX30 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony NEX-3 offers outside measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs) while the Sony WX30 has proportions of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Compare the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX30 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the NEX-3 versus the WX30.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX30 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the NEX-3 and WX30 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX30 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX30 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions only by going through technical specs. The image here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the NEX-3 and WX30.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The NEX-3 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony WX30 will provide greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged NEX-3 will be behind in sensor technology.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX30 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
Portrait photography with Sony WX30
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
30
megapixel count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Street photography information
Sony WX30 Street photography information
76
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (117 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony NEX-3
Sports photography with Sony WX30
52
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
no phase detect AF
39
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Travel photography highlights
Sony WX30 Travel photography highlights
59
good resolution (14MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than average in class (117 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
missing Timelapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography advice
Sony WX30 Landscape photography advice
68
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse function
43
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Timelapse function
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX30 as a Vlogging camera
27
provides face detect focusing
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone socket
35
decently wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (117 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
missing external microphone jack
Photography Glossary

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony WX30
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-06-07 2011-07-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.6-6.3
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Xtra Fine LCD XtraFine TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 3.70 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 297g (0.65 pounds) 117g (0.26 pounds)
Physical dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures 250 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NPFW50 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media 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
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $0 $259