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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A77

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
Sony SLT-A77 front
Portability
59
Imaging
63
Features
83
Overall
71

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A77 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 A77
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 50 - 16000 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 732g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Released October 2011
  • Superseded the Sony A700
  • Renewed by Sony A77 II
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A77 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Sony NEX-3 versus Sony A77, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR and both are offered by Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the NEX-3 (14MP) and A77 (24MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The NEX-3 was revealed 16 months prior to the A77 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A77 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the NEX-3 scores against the A77 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Sony A77

 NEX-3 A77 

Reasons to pick Sony A77 over the Sony NEX-3

 A77 NEX-3 
ReleasedOctober 2011June 2010Newer by 16 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k920kCrisper screen (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and Sony A77

 NEX-3 A77 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A77 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-3 features exterior dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs) and the Sony A77 has sizing of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

Check out the Sony NEX-3 versus Sony A77 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the NEX-3 against the A77.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A77 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the NEX-3 and A77 is 89 and 59 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A77 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A77 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to picture the difference between sensor dimensions just by reading a spec sheet. The picture below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-3 and A77.

As you can see, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can expect the Sony A77 to offer you greater detail because of its extra 10MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged NEX-3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A77 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A77 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A77 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A77 as a Portrait photography camera
72
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
77
manual focus
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Street photography advice
Sony A77 Street photography advice
76
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
74
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony NEX-3
Sports photography with Sony A77
52
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
74
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery (470 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A77 as a Travel photography camera
59
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
62
weather proof
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (470 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography factors
Sony A77 Landscape photography factors
68
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse recording
71
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
terrible battery (470 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
Vlogging with Sony A77
27
offers face detection autofocus
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone support
76
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic port
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Sony NEX-3 vs Sony A77 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and Sony A77
 Sony Alpha NEX-3Sony SLT-A77
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony SLT-A77
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2010-06-07 2011-10-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size 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 surface area 365.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 24MP
Anti alias 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 16000
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 50
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 25 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 121 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology 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 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/250 seconds
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 data 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 297 grams (0.65 lbs) 732 grams (1.61 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 68 78
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 24.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 13.2
DXO Low light rating 830 801
Other
Battery life 330 images 470 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
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 One One
Pricing at launch $0 $900