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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A33

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony SLT-A33 front
Portability
67
Imaging
54
Features
80
Overall
64

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A33 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
  • Launched June 2010
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-C3
Sony A33
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched August 2010
  • Newer Model is Sony A35
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A33 Overview

Below is a comprehensive overview of the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A33, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are created by Sony. The image resolution of the NEX-3 (14MP) and the A33 (14MP) is fairly similar and both cameras offer the same sensor size (APS-C).

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The NEX-3 was announced 2 months before the A33 and they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras have different body design with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A33 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the NEX-3 grades vs the A33 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony A33

 NEX-3 A33 

Reasons to pick Sony A33 over the Sony NEX-3

 A33 NEX-3 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution921k920kClearer display (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony A33

 NEX-3 A33 
LaunchedJune 2010August 2010Similar generation
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A33 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-3 offers outside measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs) and the Sony A33 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Look at the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A33 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at that moment. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the NEX-3 vs the A33.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A33 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-3 and A33 is 89 and 67 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A33 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A33 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor measurements just by going over a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-3 and A33.

Clearly, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the exact same MP and you should expect similar quality of photos but you should factor the production date of the products into consideration.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A33 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A33 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A33 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
Portrait photography with Sony A33
72
manual focus
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
72
manual focus
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Street photography advice
Sony A33 Street photography advice
76
tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
76
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Sports photography details
Sony A33 Sports photography details
52
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
not so great battery (340 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Travel photography features
Sony A33 Travel photography features
59
good MP (14 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
61
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (340 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A33 as a Landscape photography camera
68
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
67
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
not so great battery (340 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A33 as a Vlogging camera
27
comes with face detection autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
77
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic socket
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A33 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony A33
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony SLT-A33
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony SLT-A33
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2010-06-07 2010-08-24
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 25 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 121 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 297g (0.65 lbs) 500g (1.10 lbs)
Physical dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 68 70
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.0 12.6
DXO Low light score 830 591
Other
Battery life 330 shots 340 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NPFW50 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $0 $230