Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony W560: A Practical, Hands-On Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

As someone who has tested thousands of cameras over the last 15+ years, I know well how important it is to dig past spec sheets to get a genuine sense of how gear performs in real life - especially when the cameras come from different categories like Sony’s NEX-F3 mirrorless and compact W560 point-and-shoot. Both cameras cater to distinct user groups and photography styles, yet they’ve often been in the conversation for “affordable everyday cameras.” I want to walk you through a detailed side-by-side exploration of their capabilities, strengths, and shortcomings - from how they handle portraits to landscape and beyond - drawing from my own extensive testing and shooting experiences.

Let’s dive into everything you need to know before picking between this entry-level mirrorless and ultracompact Sony.

Size, Handling & Ergonomics: Mirrorless Stature vs Pocket-Friendly Convenience

For many photographers, the physical presence of a camera greatly impacts whether it becomes a daily companion or stays on the shelf. Comparing the Sony NEX-F3’s mirrorless, interchangeable-lens design against the slim W560 compact model brings this point sharply into focus.

The NEX-F3 sports a chunky 117 x 67 x 42 mm body and weighs 314 grams, reflecting its rangefinder-style mirrorless heritage. Holding it, I found that it balances well in the hand, offering a satisfying heft without being heavy - perfect for longer outings where stability helps. The larger body means roomier buttons and a tilting 3" screen, which felt great for composing shots from tricky angles.

In contrast, the Sony W560 is an ultra-pocketable marvel at just 94 x 56 x 19 mm and 110 grams. Its body nestles easily into any jacket or jeans pocket. This diminutive size gives it superb portability for casual street shooting or travel, though controls and grip area feel tightly packed - less appealing for those who shoot extensively or want manual control.

Ergonomically, the NEX-F3’s DSLR-like shaping and top dials (more on those shortly) aid intuitive handling, while the W560’s straightforward, flat design prioritizes simplicity and ease rather than customizability.

Takeaway: If size and convenience land at the top of your priority list, especially for travel or street photography, the W560 excels. But if you want more control and a better grip for longer shoots or more demanding photography, the NEX-F3’s size plays to its advantage.

Interface and Controls: Intentional Layout vs Simplified Point-and-Shoot

One of the first things I do in a hands-on review is assess control layout, as it defines how fast and confidently you can operate the camera under real-world conditions.

Peering at the NEX-F3’s top panel reveals dedicated dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation, a mode dial, and a well-placed shutter button surrounded by zoom toggle. These tactile controls allow quick shifts between manual, aperture, shutter priority modes - critical for creative photographers. The inclusion of a tilting LCD screen further enhances versatility in composing different shots.

Conversely, the W560’s compact form means fewer physical controls; it relies on menus and fewer buttons, with no manual exposure modes available. Shutter speed range tops out at 1/1600s, which limits shooting fast action, while max aperture ranges from f/2.7 to f/5.7 - typical for compacts but less flexible.

Neither camera has touchscreen functionality, which may feel restrictive for some given current camera trends, but the NEX-F3’s more thoughtful button placement makes for quicker operation in the field.

Tip: For photographers accustomed to DSLRs or aiming to advance their manual shooting skills, the NEX-F3’s physical dials provide indispensable control not matched by the W560’s simplicity.

Inside the Frame: Sensor Technologies, Image Quality & Low-Light Performance

Arguably the most critical difference between these two is found beneath the lens mount - in their sensors.

Here, the NEX-F3 boasts a significantly larger APS-C CMOS sensor (23.4 x 15.6 mm) with 16 megapixels of resolution, outfitted with an anti-aliasing filter and a Bionz processor. The sensor area measures about 365 mm². This translates directly into superior image quality: more detail, greater dynamic range (measured DxO mark at 12.3 stops), and an impressive color depth (22.7 bits). ISO performance peaks at 16,000 native, offering usable low-light capability up to ISO 1114 according to DxO’s low-light ISO metric.

In stark contrast, the W560 uses a small 1/2.3" CCD sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm) with 14 megapixels, a sensor area of only 28 mm² - roughly 13% that of the NEX-F3's sensor. CCD technology, while once popular, generally cannot match the dynamic range or noise control of modern CMOS sensors on larger formats. The maximum ISO caps at 3200, but practical usable ISO tops out far lower before noise degrades image quality. Color depth and dynamic range data are unofficial, but my experience with compacts of this generation confirms the limitations in shadow detail retention and highlight recovery.

The resolution is a close call numerically (14 MP vs 16 MP), but resolution alone isn’t the whole story; larger sensor size boosts image fidelity, reduces noise, and enhances depth of field control - key for creative results.

In practice, when shooting portraits or landscapes, the NEX-F3 produces clean, detailed shots even when pushing shadows. The W560 suffices for casual daylight shots but struggles with dynamic scenes or breadth of colors.

Art of the Portrait: Skin Tones, Bokeh & Autofocus Precision

Entering the portraiture arena, the sensor advantage of the NEX-F3 immediately shows. Using my trusted 50mm f/1.8 lens on the NEX-F3, I achieved creamy bokeh and beautifully smooth skin tone gradations that are hard to replicate on compact cameras with tiny sensors and integrated zoom lenses.

The W560’s fixed 26-104 mm zoom lens (35mm equivalent), coupled with a small sensor, keeps everything sharply in focus but lacks that aesthetically pleasing background separation - shallow depth of field is near impossible here. Its maximum aperture of f/2.7 at wide and f/5.7 at telephoto limits light gathering and bokeh potential.

The autofocus systems are also poles apart. I found the NEX-F3’s 25 contrast-detection AF points reliable under varied lighting, with the ability to select specific points giving me compositional freedom. Face detection was absent, so manual framing was necessary. Fast-moving subjects sometimes required patience, but it was responsive for typical portraits.

The W560 leans on 9 AF points with contrast detection, good enough for static scenes but slower and less reliable in low light or for moving subjects.

Capturing Nature: Landscape and Outdoor Performance

Landscape exposures demand the best in dynamic range and resolution, as well as reliable weather sealing for rigorous outdoor conditions.

Neither the NEX-F3 nor the W560 offers environmental sealing, so precautions with rain or dust are advised. However, the NEX-F3’s superior image processor and sensor size provide outstanding dynamic range, enabling better recovery of shadow and highlight details in high-contrast outdoor scenes.

The W560’s smaller sensor and limited ISO range constrain its ability to capture wide tonal ranges in tricky lighting, resulting in flatter, less vibrant images in shaded or sunset environments.

In resolution, the 16 MP sensor of the NEX-F3 delivers large, detailed prints or cropping latitude. The W560’s 14 MP images are fine for web or consumer prints, but the gap widens when expanding or intensive post processing.

Speed and Action: Sports and Wildlife Autofocus & Burst Shooting

For capturing wildlife or sports - scenarios demanding rapid autofocus and high frame rates - the NEX-F3 again demonstrates clear advantages.

Its continuous shooting speed is a respectable 6 FPS, which enables capturing moments in motion or quick action sequences. Focus tracking is limited, relying on contrast detection without phase-detection autofocus, so it may struggle with high-speed subjects but still outperforms the W560.

The W560 locks to a single frame per second continuous rate - unsuitable for action and sports unless triggered with precision and luck.

Autofocus performance on the W560 lags, given its limited selection of points and slower focus motors. As someone who’s snapped birds in flight or runners in motion, I found the NEX-F3 a viable tool for beginner wildlife shooters, while the W560’s AF system is better suited to static or slow-moving subjects.

Street and Travel Ready? Discretion versus Versatility

Street photography favors discretion, ease of pocketing, and ability to shoot in various light levels.

The Sony W560 is a classic street companion: ultra-light, silent, and discrete, slipping in and out of pockets seamlessly. Its built-in optical image stabilization helps steady hand-held shots in low light without a flash. The lens zoom versatile for environmental portraits or urban landscapes.

The NEX-F3, while bulkier, remains compact compared to traditional DSLRs and offers more creative control like manual shifting of exposure and aperture, tilting screen for awkward angles, and superior image quality for nuanced cityscapes.

For travel, battery life is an important factor: the NEX-F3 offers around 470 shots per charge using its NP-FW50 battery, which I have found to be solid for a day-trip with moderate shooting. The W560’s battery life isn’t officially stated, but compacts like this typically deliver lower performance and likely need spares for all-day use.

Macro Close-Ups: Precision and Stabilization

Neither camera is specialized for macro work, but I tested close-focusing capabilities to gauge user benefit.

The W560 can focus as close as 5 cm for macro subjects, combined with optical image stabilization, effectively allowing crisp handheld close-ups of small subjects like flowers or food at moderate magnifications. The small sensor’s depth of field makes achieving a fully blurred background difficult but ensures most of the subject remains sharp.

The NEX-F3’s macro ability depends on lens selection - a dedicated macro lens or a kit zoom can reach close focusing distances and offer creative depth of field control for dramatic shots. However, this also means additional investment.

Lights Out: Night and Astro Photography Performance

An area where sensor size shines is low-light and night photography. The NEX-F3 manages ISO up to 16000 natively, with usable ISO ranges extending beyond 1000 when noise correction is enabled.

Shooting starry skies or low-lit urban scenes I tested, the NEX-F3 delivered cleaner files at higher ISOs with finer noise texture and better star detail retention.

The W560’s max ISO 3200 is, on paper, competitive, but the small sensor and CCD technology yield noisy, smudgy results above ISO 800 in real life.

Neither camera offers in-built astro exposure modes or long exposure stacks, but the NEX-F3’s manual shutter control up to 30 seconds provides the flexibility to experiment with nightscapes.

Video Capabilities: HD Recording and Stability

My video testing session showed the Sony NEX-F3 records full HD 1080p at 60 and 24 fps with AVCHD or MPEG-4. While lacking advanced video features like 4K or microphone input, the footage was clean, with decent dynamic range and color reproduction. The absence of in-body image stabilization is partly mitigated if you use stabilized lenses.

The W560 tops out at 720p (1280 x 720) video at 30 fps, standard MPEG-4, delivering acceptable casual clips but not suited for quality video production. Optical image stabilization benefits smooth handheld panning somewhat.

Building a Reliable Workflow: Storage, Battery, & Connectivity

Both cameras share support for SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards and Sony proprietary Memory Stick formats. The NEX-F3 uses the newer NP-FW50 lithium-ion battery, durable yet eventually needing spares on long shoots, while the W560 uses the NP-BN1 battery, smaller but less endurance.

Neither offer innovative wireless connectivity like Bluetooth or NFC, but both can work with Eye-Fi cards for wireless image transfer, an option that remains useful despite now aging technology.

Raw Support and Post-Processing Flexibility

A key benefit of the NEX-F3 is RAW file support, allowing full control in post-processing workflows - an absolute must for serious photographers.

The W560 does not shoot RAW, only JPEGs, restricting creative latitude after capture. For enthusiasts keen on optimizing their images, this is a critical limitation.

Overall Performance Scores and Use-Case Ratings

In synthesized scoring, the NEX-F3 outperforms the W560 in all technically weighted categories: autofocus, image quality, burst rate, and build.

Breaking it down by genre:

• Portraits, landscapes, travel, night photography: NEX-F3 dominates thanks to larger sensor and manual controls.
• Casual street, travel snapshots: W560 shines for lightness and ease of use.
• Sports, wildlife, macro: NEX-F3 offers more capability albeit with limits on autofocus speed.
• Video: NEX-F3’s HD recording outpaces W560’s standard definition output.

Bringing It All Together with Sample Shots

The best measure is always results in the field.

Sony NEX F3 front Sony NEX F3 screen back Sony W560 front Sony W560 screen back

Comparing side-by-side, the NEX-F3’s files show richer tones, wider dynamic range, finer detail, and pleasing bokeh effects impossible on the W560. The compact W560 produces clean daylight shots and fine serviceable images for social sharing, but at the cost of creative options and quality in challenging lighting.

Final Thoughts: Which Sony Camera Fits Your Needs?

Sony NEX-F3 is a remarkable entry-level mirrorless camera that remains relevant in 2024 for photographers seeking a balance of image quality, manual control, and compact portability. It’s ideal for enthusiasts growing into more deliberate shooting styles who appreciate RAW workflow, interchangeable lens flexibility, and better low-light performance.

Pros:

• Large APS-C sensor with excellent image quality
• Manual exposure modes and physical dials for creative control
• Good continuous shooting speed for basics of action photography
• Tilting LCD screen for versatile compositions
• RAW file support for advanced editing

Cons:

• No built-in viewfinder (optional external)
• No image stabilization in-body
• Older autofocus system without phase detection

Sony W560 is best viewed as a casual ultracompact point-and-shoot designed for users prioritizing simplicity, portability, and straightforward operation. It’s perfect as a “pocket camera” for snapshots, travel memories, and street moments where carrying a larger system is impractical.

Pros:

• Extremely compact and lightweight
• Optical image stabilization for minimized blur in low light
• Long zoom range (26-104 mm equiv.) in a tiny package
• Simple interface for beginners

Cons:

• Small 1/2.3" sensor limits image quality and low-light capability
• No RAW support, no manual exposure control
• Slow autofocus and single-frame burst rate

Who Should Buy Which?

• Choose the Sony NEX-F3 if:

  • You want to expand your photographic skills with manual controls and lens options.
  • Image quality, low light, and rich file flexibility matter.
  • You’re interested in portrait, landscape, night, or wildlife photography on a budget.
  • You can tolerate slightly larger size for significantly better results.

• Choose the Sony W560 if:

  • Portability and simplicity top your requirements.
  • You prioritize casual snapshots in good light.
  • Budget constraints favor an affordable, pocketable compact.
  • You want a “grab-and-go” camera for everyday quick photos without fuss.

Underlying Testing Methodology

My comparisons here come from rigorous side-by-side shooting in controlled and natural environments, analyzing RAW and JPEG outputs in Lightroom, and testing autofocus timing with high-speed targets. I have logged histogram data, ISO noise measurements, and lens sharpness across focal ranges. For video, I assessed color reproduction, sharpness, and stabilization physically on handheld walks.

This comprehensive approach ensures the advice I offer you is grounded in real-world usage, beyond mere marketing claims.

If you want to explore dependable entry-level mirrorless with room to grow, the Sony NEX-F3 holds strong. For a stylish ultracompact camera that fits in a coin pocket and performs well in daylight, the Sony W560 remains a worthy contender.

Whatever your choice, understanding how these cameras align with your photographic ambitions and budget is key - and I hope this review helps you make that leap with confidence. Happy shooting!