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Sony NEX-3N vs Sony W690

Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
52
Overall
55
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony W690 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
  • Launched February 2013
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-F3
  • Refreshed by Sony a5000
Sony W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Released February 2012
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Sony NEX-3N vs Sony W690 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Sony NEX-3N vs Sony W690, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both sold by Sony. The image resolution of the NEX-3N (16MP) and the W690 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the NEX-3N (APS-C) and W690 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The NEX-3N was introduced 13 months after the W690 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W690 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the NEX-3N matches up versus the W690 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Sony W690

 NEX-3N W690 
ReleasedFebruary 2013February 2012Newer by 13 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Sony NEX-3N

 W690 NEX-3N 

Common features in the Sony NEX-3N and Sony W690

 NEX-3N W690 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony W690 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and size. The Sony NEX-3N provides exterior dimensions of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Sony W690 has specifications of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony NEX-3N vs Sony W690 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the NEX-3N and the W690.

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony W690 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-3N and W690 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony W690 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony W690 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to envision the gap in sensor dimensions merely by checking out a spec sheet. The picture underneath will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-3N and W690.

As you can see, both cameras have the same megapixels albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The NEX-3N offers the bigger sensor which will make achieving shallower DOF easier. The younger NEX-3N will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony W690 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony W690 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony W690 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-3N Portrait photography info
Sony W690 Portrait photography info
66
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
34
MP count good (16MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3N Street photography features
Sony W690 Street photography features
77
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
57
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-3N Sports photography details
Sony W690 Sports photography details
54
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great battery power (480 shots)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3N Travel photography details
Sony W690 Travel photography details
71
great battery power (480 shots)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
68
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
no Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3N as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W690 as a Landscape photography camera
70
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (480 shots)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse function
43
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-3N Vlogging info
Sony W690 Vlogging info
28
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have microphone port
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone support
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Sony NEX-3N vs Sony W690 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3N and Sony W690
 Sony Alpha NEX-3NSony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3N Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-02-25 2012-02-28
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz 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 surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4912 x 3264 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 16000 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 25 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 3.30 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
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 format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
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 269g (0.59 lbs) 142g (0.31 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") 94 x 56 x 22mm (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 220 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-BN
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $399 $297