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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX5

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
29
Overall
32

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX5 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
  • New Model is Sony NEX-C3
Sony WX5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 146g - 92 x 52 x 22mm
  • Introduced July 2010
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX5 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX5, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both sold by Sony. The resolution of the NEX-3 (14MP) and the WX5 (12MP) is very close but the NEX-3 (APS-C) and WX5 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The NEX-3 was manufactured about the same time to the WX5 so they are of a similar generation. The two cameras have different body design with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony WX5 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summary of how the NEX-3 matches up vs the WX5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony WX5

 NEX-3 WX5 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.8"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution920k461kClearer display (+459k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony WX5 over the Sony NEX-3

 WX5 NEX-3 

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony WX5

 NEX-3 WX5 
IntroducedJune 2010July 2010Same generation
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony NEX-3 offers 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 WX5 has proportions of 92mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9") and a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs).

Check out the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the NEX-3 vs the WX5.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the NEX-3 and WX5 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX5 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to see the gap in sensor sizes merely by researching specs. The pic below will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-3 and WX5.

All in all, both of those cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The NEX-3 due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony NEX-3 will render greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos more aggressively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX5 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
Portrait photography with Sony WX5
72
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW files
21
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Street photography information
Sony WX5 Street photography information
76
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Sports photography details
Sony WX5 Sports photography details
52
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony NEX-3
Travel photography with Sony WX5
59
MP count good (14MP)
no Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
58
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography info
Sony WX5 Landscape photography info
68
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
no Timelapse mode
37
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (2.8")
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
manual mode not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Vlogging info
Sony WX5 Vlogging info
27
supports face detect focus
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone jack
32
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony WX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony WX5
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-06-07 2010-07-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.4-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.8"
Display resolution 920 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 5.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
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 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 297 gr (0.65 pounds) 146 gr (0.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 92 x 52 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $0 $250