Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony W800: A Deep-Dive Comparison for the Discerning Photographer

When considering a camera purchase in the Sony compact to entry-level mirrorless range, the Sony NEX-F3 and Sony W800 represent two fundamentally different philosophies and user experiences. As a photographer who has tested thousands of cameras spanning decades, I find this comparison particularly instructive. The NEX-F3, announced in 2012, is an entry-level mirrorless camera with an APS-C sensor, whereas the W800, emerging two years later, is a small sensor compact designed for simplicity and portability.

This article aims to dissect how these two cameras perform across various photography disciplines and real-world scenarios, providing you with a clear, evidence-based perspective to help identify which suits your needs - whether you are a beginner, enthusiast, or even a professional seeking a backup or travel-ready solution.

Size and Handling: Portability vs. Ergonomics

We begin with the basics: how the cameras feel and fit in the hand, as ergonomics influence not only comfort but also shooting stability and quick access to controls.

The Sony NEX-F3 has a rangefinder-style mirrorless body design measuring 117 x 67 x 42 mm and weighing approximately 314 grams. The Sony W800, a compact point-and-shoot, is significantly smaller and lighter, coming in at 97 x 55 x 21 mm and 125 grams. This considerable difference makes the W800 exceptionally pocketable - ideal for casual walks or travel situations where carrying minimal gear is paramount.

While the W800’s diminutive size promotes portability, the NEX-F3’s larger frame pays dividends for handling. The extended grip and more substantial weight lend stability during handheld shooting, especially with longer lenses attached. The NEX-F3 also has more customizable buttons and dials, facilitating quicker manual control that we’ll explore in the interface section.

In practice, I found the W800 surprisingly nimble for quick point-and-shoot scenarios but less comfortable for prolonged use or precision framing. The NEX-F3, though bulkier, feels more deliberate and reassuring in hand. It strikes a balance between compactness and control, especially important for photographers who like to tinker with settings on the fly.

Design and Control Layout: Intuitive vs. Simplified

Ergonomics are part hardware, part interface design. Let’s peek under the hood.

The NEX-F3’s top panel boasts a dedicated mode dial, exposure compensation dial, and a shutter button surrounded by a zoom lever. Front and rear dials facilitate aperture and shutter speed adjustments in manual modes. These tactile controls are valuable for photographers who appreciate granular manual shooting without diving into menus.

In contrast, the W800 exposes a very minimal array of controls - typical for a compacts-tier camera: a shutter button, zoom toggle, and a few function buttons on the rear. No mode dial, no manual exposure options; it’s point-and-shoot simplicity at its core.

From a usability perspective, the NEX-F3 caters to users craving creative control with quick adjustments, while the W800 aims at those wanting effortless snapshots. It's a crucial distinction - your intended shooting style should guide your choice here.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

No two cameras are more different than the sensor and resultant image quality they can deliver.

The NEX-F3 houses a 16-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor measuring 23.4 x 15.6 mm, roughly 13 times the area of the W800’s diminutive 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor at 6.17 x 4.55 mm. This difference alone accounts for the vast performance gap in resolution, noise handling, dynamic range, and depth of field control.

Sony’s Bionz processor in the NEX-F3, while now dated, was advanced for its time, enabling 14-bit RAW shooting - crucial for post-processing flexibility. The W800 outputs only JPEG, no RAW, limiting creativity and latitude in editing.

Regarding measurable image quality from DxOMark data and hands-on testing:

• Dynamic Range: The NEX-F3 achieves approximately 12.3 EV, allowing it to capture more highlight and shadow detail in challenging lighting.
• Color Depth: At 22.7 bits, the NEX-F3 provides richer, more nuanced color gradations.
• Low Light ISO: The usable ISO max is around 1114, with moderate noise at higher sensitivities.

By comparison, the W800’s small sensor and lack of ISO flexibility produces noisier images under dim conditions, flatter colors, and limited dynamic range.

In real-world outdoor shooting, the NEX-F3 captured fine detail with crisp lines, while the W800 often rendered softer images with less depth. For portraits, the NEX-F3 leveraged its larger sensor to produce a pleasing background blur (bokeh), whereas the W800’s tiny sensor yielded deep depth of field, making isolation of subjects difficult.

LCD and Viewfinder: Composition and Review Modes

Looking through a screen or viewfinder is our link to the scene, so display quality matters.

The NEX-F3 offers a 3-inch tilting TFT Xtra Fine LCD with 920k dots, enabling comfortable high-visibility framing from awkward angles - valuable for macro, video, or low/high shots. Although it lacks a built-in electronic viewfinder (one is optional as an external accessory), the large screen compensates well for outdoor and live-view work.

Meanwhile, the W800 has a smaller 2.7-inch fixed TFT LCD with only 230k dots resolution, which feels significantly lower quality. It’s less bright and detailed, making focusing and composition more challenging in direct sunlight.

Both cameras lack touchscreens, making touchscreen-based focus or control impossible, which is a downside given touchscreen ubiquity since 2012. But the NEX-F3’s tilt mechanism and resolution grant it a distinct usability advantage.

Autofocus and Performance: Speed, Precision, and Tracking

Performance in focus and shutter responsiveness can make or break critical moments, especially in fast-paced photography.

The NEX-F3 features a contrast detection autofocus system with 25 focus points, including multi-area and selective autofocus modes. It supports continuous autofocus, although it lacks phase detection or advanced eye/animal AF.

On the other hand, the W800 utilizes a basic contrast AF system with center-weighted focus - slow, less precise, and without continuous autofocus or tracking in practical terms, despite nominal tracking claims.

Shooting wildlife or sports with the NEX-F3 showed decent responsiveness given its age; the burst rate of 6 fps allowed for capturing action sequences, although focus acquisition lagged behind modern mirrorless offerings. The W800’s single-shot capacity at 1 fps and slower AF made it unsuitable for dynamic subjects.

Lens Options and Ecosystem: Flexibility vs Fixed Lens

Lens compatibility often dictates a camera’s long-term versatility.

The NEX-F3’s advantage lies in its Sony E-mount, compatible with over 120 lenses, including primes, zooms, macro, and third-party options. Mounting fast primes or telephotos transforms it from an entry-level model into a serious photographic tool.

The W800 has a fixed 26-130mm (equivalent) lens with an aperture range of F3.2-6.4. This lens is decent for general snaps but lacks the speed or sharpness for specialized genres. No lens interchangeability limits growth for photographers as skills evolve.

For macro work, the NEX-F3 paired with dedicated macro lenses shines, while the W800 is constrained to its built-in optic, with focus precision limited by the simpler AF system.

Battery Life and Storage Options: Stamina and Convenience

Shooting duration and storage affect practical fieldwork.

The NEX-F3 uses the NP-FW50 battery pack, rated for roughly 470 shots per charge, comparable with many APS-C mirrorless models of its era. Realistic use with LCD preview and occasional burst shooting confirms this with moderate conservatism.

The W800 utilizes the smaller NP-BN battery, specifications less detailed from Sony but offering fewer shots. No official battery life reporting complicates direct comparison, but expect less endurance.

Both cameras provide one storage slot supporting SD and Sony Memory Stick formats, facilitating easy storage expansion.

Connectivity and Extras: Wireless, Video, and More

Connectivity is always a wildcard with older cameras.

The NEX-F3 features Eye-Fi card compatibility and HDMI output, enabling wireless image transfers with compatible cards, and hooking up to external displays for live view or playback.

The W800 lacks wireless connectivity, no HDMI port, and limited video specs capped at 720p, making it a lightweight option with modest sharing capabilities.

Neither camera supports Bluetooth, NFC, or advanced wireless remote triggering.

Video Capabilities: Full HD Mirrorless vs HD Compact

Both cameras support video recording, albeit at different quality tiers.

The NEX-F3 records Full HD 1080p video at 60 or 24 fps in AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats. Its larger sensor allows better low-light performance and shallower depth of field for cinematic effects. However, it lacks a microphone or headphone port, limiting audio control.

The W800 records 720p video at 30 fps in MPEG-4 AVI format - serviceable for casual clips but not up to serious video work.

Neither camera supports 4K recording - unsurprising given their release years - but the NEX-F3’s better codec options and sensor sensitivity give it a decisive edge for hybrid shooters wanting both stills and video.

Genre-Specific Performance: Who Excels Where?

Let’s synthesize how these cameras perform across major photographic disciplines.

Sony NEX F3 front Sony NEX F3 screen back Sony W800 front Sony W800 screen back

Portraits

• NEX-F3: Excels with skin tone accuracy, smooth rendition, and pleasing bokeh thanks to the APS-C sensor and interchangeable lenses. Eye detection autofocus is absent, requiring more attention to focusing.
• W800: Faces look flat due to smaller sensor and deeper depth of field; however, auto face detection helps ensure faces are in focus.

Landscapes

• NEX-F3: Strong dynamic range preserves skies and shadow detail even in harsh midday sun. High resolution delivers ample cropping latitude.
• W800: Struggles with dynamic range causing blown highlights and muddy shadows.

Wildlife and Sports

• NEX-F3: Burst shooting at 6 fps and multi-area AF allow basic action capture, though AF speed isn’t top-tier.
• W800: Single shot, slow AF makes this genre impractical.

Street Photography

• NEX-F3: Bulkier, but still discreet enough in quiet environments. Tilting screen aids low-angle shots.
• W800: Ultra-portable and inconspicuous, good for casual street snaps but misses manual controls.

Macro

• NEX-F3: Paired with macro lenses, offers high detail and finer focus control.
• W800: Limited by fixed lens and modest focus distance.

Night and Astro

• NEX-F3: Larger sensor and ISO capability make it viable for low-light and astro, although some noise at elevated ISO is present.
• W800: Small sensor performance drops off sharply in low light; noise dominates.

Video

• NEX-F3: Superior quality, Full HD, and better exposure control.
• W800: Basic HD video, suitable for casual use.

Travel Photography

• NEX-F3: A versatile tool offering image quality and controls for serious creative shooting but less pocketable.
• W800: Lightweight, easy to carry, and robust for travel snapshots.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing

Both cameras lack environmental sealing, dust or water resistance, which is expected at these price points. Handling should be cautious in adverse conditions.

Pricing and Value Proposition

With original launch prices around $470 for the NEX-F3 and $90 for the W800, there is no surprise in the disparity of capabilities and feature sets. The NEX-F3’s investment buys you a capable sensor, a lens ecosystem, and extensive manual controls; the W800 is a budget-friendly snapshot machine.

Recent used market prices often compress this gap slightly but still reflect this divide.

Summarizing Scores and Recommendations

Who’s the Sony NEX-F3 For?

• Photography enthusiasts or semi-pros wanting entry-level mirrorless quality
• Users prioritizing manual controls, sensor size, and creative flexibility
• Those who may wish to expand their lens collection over time
• Portrait, landscape, macro, and low-light shooters who demand better image quality

Who’s the Sony W800 For?

• Casual users seeking an ultra-simple, pocketable point-and-shoot
• Travelers valuing size and weight over image quality and control
• Snapshot-focused consumers on a tight budget
• Users uninterested in manual exposure or lens changes

Closing Thoughts

Having spent significant time behind both cameras - from urban city streets to sprawling landscapes - the NEX-F3 and W800 embody two poles in Sony’s lineup: entry-level mirrorless vs budget compact. The NEX-F3's larger sensor, manual controls, and lens flexibility deliver a demonstrably superior photographic experience. For serious photography disciplines ranging from portraits to wildlife, it is the clear choice. The W800, while technically limited, remains a steadfast companion for casual point-and-shoot photography where convenience and simplicity trump technical excellence.

Choosing between them boils down to your priorities: Is it creative control and image quality or straightforward portability and ease of use? Armed with this comparison and extensive hands-on insights, I trust you’ll make the choice best tailored to your photographic journey.

Happy shooting!