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Sony NEX-3N vs Sony A55

Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
52
Overall
55
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony A55 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
  • Released February 2013
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-F3
  • Later Model is Sony a5000
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Announced August 2010
  • New Model is Sony A57
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Sony NEX-3N vs Sony A55 Overview

Below is a extended review of the Sony NEX-3N vs Sony A55, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are produced by Sony. The sensor resolution of the NEX-3N (16MP) and the A55 (16MP) is very similar and they possess the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The NEX-3N was released 2 years later than the A55 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summation of how the NEX-3N scores against the A55 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Sony A55

 NEX-3N A55 
AnnouncedFebruary 2013August 2010More recent by 31 months

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony NEX-3N

 A55 NEX-3N 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony NEX-3N and Sony A55

 NEX-3N A55 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-3N offers external dimensions of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Sony A55 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony NEX-3N vs Sony A55 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the NEX-3N compared to the A55.

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony A55 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the NEX-3N and A55 is 89 and 67 respectively.

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading technical specs. The visual here might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-3N and A55.

As you can tell, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the same resolution so you should expect similar quality of photographs though you have to take the release date of the products into consideration. The newer NEX-3N will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-3N vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3N
Portrait photography with Sony A55
66
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
73
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-3N as a Street photography camera
Sony A55 as a Street photography camera
77
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
77
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony NEX-3N
Sports photography with Sony A55
53
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
better than average battery (480 CIPA)
max fps low (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
not so great battery power (380 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-3N Travel photography information
Sony A55 Travel photography information
71
better than average battery (480 shots)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
62
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery power (380 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-3N Landscape photography info
Sony A55 Landscape photography info
70
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (480 shots)
does not have image stabilization
no Timelapse function
67
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
not so great battery power (380 shots)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony NEX-3N
Vlogging with Sony A55
28
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
no external microphone jack
78
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone jack
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Sony NEX-3N vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-3N and Sony A55
 Sony Alpha NEX-3NSony SLT-A55
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-3N Sony SLT-A55
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2013-02-25 2010-08-24
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4912 x 3264 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 16000 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 25 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 121 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lb) 500 gr (1.10 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 74 73
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.5 12.4
DXO Low light rating 1067 816
Other
Battery life 480 photographs 380 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-FW50
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $399 $800