Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A68

On this page, we are analyzing the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A68, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both manufactured by Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the NEX-3 (14MP) and A68 (24MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The NEX-3 was released 6 years earlier than the A68 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A68 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the NEX-3 scores versus the A68 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Sony Alpha NEX-3 and Sony SLT-A68. The complete galleries are viewable at Sony NEX-3 Gallery and Sony A68 Gallery.

If you're intending to carry your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-3 provides exterior measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs) while the Sony A68 has dimensions of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 610 grams (1.34 lbs).

See the Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A68 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the NEX-3 against the A68.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-3 and A68 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Often, its hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing purely by reviewing specifications. The graphic below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the NEX-3 and A68.

To sum up, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Sony A68 to deliver more detail as a result of its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The older NEX-3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.