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Sony NEX-3N vs Sony S980

Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
52
Overall
55
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony NEX-3N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced February 2013
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-F3
  • Renewed by Sony a5000
Sony S980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Launched February 2009
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Sony NEX-3N vs Sony S980 Overview

Below is a in-depth comparison of the Sony NEX-3N versus Sony S980, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are offered by Sony. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the NEX-3N (16MP) and S980 (12MP) and the NEX-3N (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The NEX-3N was revealed 4 years later than the S980 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the NEX-3N grades versus the S980 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Sony S980

 NEX-3N S980 
LaunchedFebruary 2013February 2009More recent by 49 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony NEX-3N

 S980 NEX-3N 

Common features in the Sony NEX-3N and Sony S980

 NEX-3N S980 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-3N features physical measurements of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has sizing of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Sony NEX-3N versus Sony S980 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the NEX-3N vs the S980.

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-3N and S980 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements purely by checking out a spec sheet. The visual below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the NEX-3N and S980.

As you can see, both cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The NEX-3N with its larger sensor will make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Sony NEX-3N will show greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The younger NEX-3N is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3N Portrait photography details
Sony S980 Portrait photography details
66
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
27
has manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3N Street photography info
Sony S980 Street photography info
77
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
47
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3N Sports photography factors
Sony S980 Sports photography factors
54
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great battery power (480 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect AF
17
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3N Travel photography features
Sony S980 Travel photography features
71
great battery power (480 CIPA)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3N
Landscape photography with Sony S980
70
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (480 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse mode
27
has manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3N Vlogging information
Sony S980 Vlogging information
28
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
lack of external mic jack
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone support
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Sony NEX-3N vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3N and Sony S980
 Sony Alpha NEX-3NSony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3N Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-02-25 2009-02-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4912 x 3264 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 16000 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Number of lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 3.50 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lb) 167 gr (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID NPFW50 -
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $399 $300