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Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony A57

Portability
86
Imaging
57
Features
60
Overall
58
Sony Alpha NEX-F3 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony A57 Key Specs

Sony NEX-F3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-C3
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-3N
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Revealed September 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A55
  • Updated by Sony A58
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Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony A57 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony A57, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both designed by Sony. The sensor resolution of the NEX-F3 (16MP) and the A57 (16MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras provide the identical sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The NEX-F3 was released around the same time to the A57 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-F3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a quick overview of how the NEX-F3 grades versus the A57 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Sony A57

 NEX-F3 A57 

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Sony NEX-F3

 A57 NEX-F3 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution921k920kClearer display (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony NEX-F3 and Sony A57

 NEX-F3 A57 
RevealedAugust 2012September 2012Same age
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony NEX-F3 has got physical measurements of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Sony A57 has proportions of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") along with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Compare the Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony A57 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the NEX-F3 and the A57.

Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-F3 and A57 is 86 and 64 respectively.

Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to see the contrast in sensor sizing just by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the NEX-F3 and A57.

As you can see, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same megapixels and you can expect comparable quality of photographs though you will need to take the age of the cameras into account.

Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony NEX-F3
Portrait photography with Sony A57
74
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-F3 Street photography advice
Sony A57 Street photography advice
76
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
75
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony NEX-F3
Sports photography with Sony A57
53
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery life (470 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-F3 Travel photography info
Sony A57 Travel photography info
69
better than average battery life (470 per charge)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
does not have a selfie friendly screen
67
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-F3 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A57 Landscape photography highlights
70
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (470 shots)
does not have image stabilization
no Timelapse function
72
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony NEX-F3
Vlogging with Sony A57
27
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
no external microphone socket
77
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic port
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Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-F3 and Sony A57
 Sony Alpha NEX-F3Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-F3 Sony SLT-A57
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-08-16 2012-09-13
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4912 x 3264 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 16000 16000
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 25 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 121 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Xtra Fine LCD Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 314 grams (0.69 lb) 618 grams (1.36 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 75
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 23.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 13.0
DXO Low light rating 1114 785
Other
Battery life 470 pictures 550 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail price $470 $1,000