Sony NEX-3N vs Sony RX100 IV

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Sony NEX-3N versus Sony RX100 IV, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and both of them are manufactured by Sony. The image resolution of the NEX-3N (16MP) and the RX100 IV (20MP) is relatively comparable but the NEX-3N (APS-C) and RX100 IV (1") feature different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The NEX-3N was introduced 3 years earlier than the RX100 IV and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the NEX-3N scores vs the RX100 IV when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Alpha NEX-3N and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV. The whole galleries are viewable at Sony NEX-3N Gallery and Sony RX100 IV Gallery.

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-3N features external measurements of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 IV has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Examine the Sony NEX-3N versus Sony RX100 IV in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the NEX-3N against the RX100 IV.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-3N and RX100 IV is 89 and 89 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be hard to visualize the gap in sensor measurements simply by going through specs. The photograph below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the NEX-3N and RX100 IV.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The NEX-3N having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Sony RX100 IV will produce extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The older NEX-3N will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.