Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A65

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.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Alpha NEX-3 & Sony SLT-A65. The full galleries are provided at Sony NEX-3 Gallery & Sony A65 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.