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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A55

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A55 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
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-C3
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Announced August 2010
  • Renewed by Sony A57
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A55 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Sony NEX-3 versus Sony A55, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are created by Sony. The sensor resolution of the NEX-3 (14MP) and the A55 (16MP) is pretty well matched and they possess the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The NEX-3 was manufactured 2 months prior to the A55 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 A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a thorough comparison, below is a short view of how the NEX-3 matches up vs the A55 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony A55

 NEX-3 A55 

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony NEX-3

 A55 NEX-3 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k920kCrisper screen (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony A55

 NEX-3 A55 
AnnouncedJune 2010August 2010Similar generation
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony NEX-3 has outer dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs) and the Sony A55 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Contrast the Sony NEX-3 versus Sony A55 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the NEX-3 compared to the A55.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the NEX-3 and A55 is 89 and 67 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes purely by reading through specs. The image underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-3 and A55.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Sony A55 to resolve greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures much more aggressively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
Portrait photography with Sony A55
72
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW files
73
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony A55 as a Street photography camera
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
77
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A55 as a Sports photography camera
52
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
low battery power (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Travel photography info
Sony A55 Travel photography info
59
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
missing Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
62
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low battery power (380 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A55 as a Landscape photography camera
68
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
missing Timelapse function
67
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
low battery power (380 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Vlogging factors
Sony A55 Vlogging factors
27
includes face detection focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone port
78
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic port
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony A55
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony SLT-A55
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2010-06-07 2010-08-24
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip 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 area 365.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 25 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 121 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 jack
Headphone jack
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 297 grams (0.65 lb) 500 grams (1.10 lb)
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 rating 68 73
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 12.4
DXO Low light rating 830 816
Other
Battery life 330 shots 380 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $0 $800