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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A65

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony SLT-A65 front
Portability
64
Imaging
63
Features
85
Overall
71

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A65 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
  • Released June 2010
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-C3
Sony A65
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 622g - 132 x 97 x 81mm
  • Launched November 2011
  • Updated by Sony A68
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A65 Overview

Following is a comprehensive comparison of the Sony NEX-3 and Sony A65, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both created by Sony. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the NEX-3 (14MP) and A65 (24MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The NEX-3 was revealed 17 months prior to the A65 which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A65 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a concise overview of how the NEX-3 scores vs the A65 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony A65

 NEX-3 A65 

Reasons to pick Sony A65 over the Sony NEX-3

 A65 NEX-3 
LaunchedNovember 2011June 2010More modern by 17 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k920kClearer screen (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony A65

 NEX-3 A65 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A65 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-3 comes with outside 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) while the Sony A65 has sizing of 132mm x 97mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") along with a weight of 622 grams (1.37 lbs).

Contrast the Sony NEX-3 and Sony A65 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the NEX-3 versus the A65.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A65 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-3 and A65 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A65 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A65 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes merely by seeing technical specs. The pic underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-3 and A65.

As you have seen, both of those cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You can expect the Sony A65 to show greater detail because of its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged NEX-3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A65 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A65 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A65 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography info
Sony A65 Portrait photography info
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
77
focusing manually
MP count good (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Street photography advice
Sony A65 Street photography advice
76
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
77
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Sports photography highlights
Sony A65 Sports photography highlights
52
MP count good (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
81
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
supports phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Travel photography info
Sony A65 Travel photography info
59
MP count good (14 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
68
MP count good (24MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3
Landscape photography with Sony A65
68
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
MP count good (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
no Timelapse recording
75
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Vlogging details
Sony A65 Vlogging details
27
offers face detect focusing
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone jack
78
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone jack
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A65 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony A65
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony SLT-A65
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony SLT-A65
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2010-06-07 2011-11-15
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 25 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 121 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
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 speed 7.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 10.00 m
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
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 297 gr (0.65 pounds) 622 gr (1.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 132 x 97 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 68 74
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score 12.0 12.6
DXO Low light score 830 717
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 560 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NPFW50 NP-FM500H
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
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $0 $700