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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A58

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony SLT-A58 front
Portability
68
Imaging
62
Features
72
Overall
66

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A58 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
  • Announced June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-C3
Sony A58
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 492g - 129 x 95 x 78mm
  • Released November 2013
  • Superseded the Sony A57
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A58 Overview

Here is a thorough overview of the Sony NEX-3 and Sony A58, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both designed by Sony. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the NEX-3 (14MP) and A58 (20MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The NEX-3 was introduced 4 years earlier than the A58 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A58 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short view of how the NEX-3 grades vs the A58 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony A58

 NEX-3 A58 
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A58 over the Sony NEX-3

 A58 NEX-3 
ReleasedNovember 2013June 2010Fresher by 42 months

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony A58

 NEX-3 A58 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A58 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and measurements. The Sony NEX-3 comes with external measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs) while the Sony A58 has proportions of 129mm x 95mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1") and a weight of 492 grams (1.08 lbs).

Look at the Sony NEX-3 and Sony A58 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at that moment. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the NEX-3 compared to the A58.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A58 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-3 and A58 is 89 and 68 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A58 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A58 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizing simply by researching a spec sheet. The visual below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-3 and A58.

Clearly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Sony A58 to provide you with extra detail using its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images far more aggressively. The older NEX-3 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A58 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A58 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A58 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A58 as a Portrait photography camera
72
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW files
77
manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony A58 as a Street photography camera
76
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
78
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Sports photography factors
Sony A58 Sports photography factors
52
decent megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
81
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
good battery power (690 shots)
comes with phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony NEX-3
Travel photography with Sony A58
59
decent megapixels (14MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
63
good battery power (690 shots)
resolution is good (20MP)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3
Landscape photography with Sony A58
68
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3")
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
70
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (690 shots)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Vlogging factors
Sony A58 Vlogging factors
27
includes face detection focus
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic socket
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone jack
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A58 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony A58
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony SLT-A58
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony SLT-A58
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-06-07 2013-11-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 5456 x 3632
Highest native ISO 12800 16000
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 25 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 121 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.6
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 920 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.65x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds 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
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 297 grams (0.65 pounds) 492 grams (1.08 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 129 x 95 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 68 74
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 12.5
DXO Low light rating 830 753
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 690 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) -
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $0 $645