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Sony NEX-3 vs YI M1

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
 
YI M1 front
Portability
87
Imaging
59
Features
66
Overall
61

Sony NEX-3 vs YI M1 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
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-C3
YI M1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 350g - 114 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed September 2016
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Sony NEX-3 vs YI M1 Overview

Below is a in depth assessment of the Sony NEX-3 vs YI M1, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by competitors Sony and YI. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the NEX-3 (14MP) and M1 (20MP) and the NEX-3 (APS-C) and M1 (Four Thirds) use totally different sensor size.

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The NEX-3 was brought out 7 years earlier than the M1 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the NEX-3 matches up vs the M1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the YI M1

 NEX-3 M1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick YI M1 over the Sony NEX-3

 M1 NEX-3 
RevealedSeptember 2016June 2010More recent by 76 months
Screen resolution1040k920kSharper screen (+120k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony NEX-3 and YI M1

 NEX-3 M1 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Sony NEX-3 vs YI M1 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-3 comes with outer measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs) whilst the YI M1 has dimensions of 114mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 350 grams (0.77 lbs).

Analyze the Sony NEX-3 vs YI M1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the NEX-3 vs the M1.

Sony NEX-3 vs YI M1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-3 and M1 is 89 and 87 respectively.

Sony NEX-3 vs YI M1 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs YI M1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to envision the difference in sensor measurements just by going through specifications. The visual here will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-3 and M1.

To sum up, both of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The NEX-3 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the YI M1 will produce more detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older NEX-3 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony NEX-3 vs YI M1 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3 vs YI M1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3 vs YI M1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography information
YI M1 Portrait photography information
72
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW files
75
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Street photography camera
YI M1 as a Street photography camera
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
73
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Sports photography factors
YI M1 Sports photography factors
52
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
54
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great battery power (450 per charge)
max fps low (5.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3 Travel photography information
YI M1 Travel photography information
59
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
78
great battery power (450 per charge)
connects via bluetooth
comes with touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3 as a Landscape photography camera
YI M1 as a Landscape photography camera
68
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
76
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (450 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
Vlogging with YI M1
27
has face detection focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic jack
33
touch screen
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have microphone port
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Sony NEX-3 vs YI M1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3 and YI M1
 Sony Alpha NEX-3YI M1
General Information
Manufacturer Sony YI
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3 YI M1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2010-06-07 2016-09-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3056 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 25 81
Lens
Lens support Sony E Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 121 107
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Red-Eye Slow
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 75 Mbps, MOV, H.264, AAC
Max video resolution 1280x720 4096x2160
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 297 grams (0.65 lb) 350 grams (0.77 lb)
Dimensions 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") 114 x 64 x 34mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 68 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 830 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 450 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots One One
Launch price $0 $320