Clicky

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony HX30V

Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
52
Overall
55
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Sony NEX-3N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 62 x 35mm
  • Revealed February 2013
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-F3
  • Replacement is Sony a5000
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced February 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony HX20V
  • Renewed by Sony HX50V
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony HX30V Overview

Let's look more closely at the Sony NEX-3N and Sony HX30V, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Sony. The resolution of the NEX-3N (16MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is fairly well matched but the NEX-3N (APS-C) and HX30V (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The NEX-3N was launched 13 months after the HX30V making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the NEX-3N grades vs the HX30V for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Sony HX30V

 NEX-3N HX30V 
IntroducedFebruary 2013February 2012Newer by 13 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony NEX-3N

 HX30V NEX-3N 
Display resolution922k460kCrisper display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-3N and Sony HX30V

 NEX-3N HX30V 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-3N comes with outer dimensions of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Sony HX30V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Look at the Sony NEX-3N and Sony HX30V in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the NEX-3N and the HX30V.

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the NEX-3N and HX30V is 89 and 90 respectively.

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to picture the difference between sensor dimensions just by checking technical specs. The pic underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-3N and HX30V.

As you can tell, both of those cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The NEX-3N because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Sony HX30V will resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more modern NEX-3N should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3N
Portrait photography with Sony HX30V
66
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
external flash not possible
45
focusing manually
good resolution (18MP)
comes with face detection focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony NEX-3N
Street photography with Sony HX30V
77
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (254 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3N Sports photography details
Sony HX30V Sports photography details
53
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (480 per charge)
max frames per second low (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3N Travel photography features
Sony HX30V Travel photography features
71
better than average battery pack (480 CIPA)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competitors (254 grams)
good resolution (18MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3N Landscape photography details
Sony HX30V Landscape photography details
70
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (480 shots)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
50
focusing manually
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3N Vlogging information
Sony HX30V Vlogging information
28
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of external microphone support
34
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (254g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
does not contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic port
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3N and Sony HX30V
 Sony Alpha NEX-3NSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3N Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-02-25 2012-02-28
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4912 x 3264 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 16000 12800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 7.10 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 269g (0.59 pounds) 254g (0.56 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1067 not tested
Other
Battery life 480 photos 320 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-BG1
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $399 $420