7 hours ago
| I own it | I want it | I had it |
| 68 | 5 | 24 |
The NEX-3 mirrorless interchangeable lens camera is the smaller sister model of the NEX-5. Both NEX cameras come with a 14.6 megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS and the mirrorless E-mount. They offer a high-resolution tilting screen, fast continuous shooting and HD video capture. The NEX-3 has a slightly larger plastic body (vs magnesium on the NEX-5), doesn't come with an infrared remote receiver and only offers 720p HD video versus the NEX-5's 1080i AVCHD movie recording.
However, in every other respect the NEX-3 is identical to the NEX-5. In iAuto mode the camera does a decent job for point-and-shoot users but where the NEX really shines is the PASM modes where you can take full advantage of the large, very capable sensor. The feature sets are impressive, as are the NEX's portability and flexibility. The NEX is not a substitute for a DSLR but offers DSLR image quality without the bulk.
| Body type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
| Max resolution | 4592 x 3056 |
| Effective pixels | 14 megapixels |
| Sensor size | APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| ISO | Auto, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800 |
| Lens mount | Sony E Mount |
| Focal length mult. | 1.5× |
| Articulated LCD | Tilting |
| Screen size | 3.00″ |
| Screen dots | 920,000 |
| Min shutter speed | 30 sec |
| Max shutter speed | 1/4000 sec |
| Format |
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| Storage types | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 297 g (0.65 lb / 10.48 oz) |
| Dimensions | 117 x 62 x 33 mm (4.61 x 2.44 x 1.30″) |
| GPS | None |
The NEX-3 is a brave and interesting attempt to make a true cross-over camera for compact camera users wanting access to a larger sensor and interchangeable lenses. And, although it isn't a flawless point-and-shoot camera, it offers a great feature set at a competitive price in a conveniently small body.
Good for: Gadget lovers, Panoramics, Enthusiast photographers wanting APS-C image quality in a tiny package.
Not so good for: Fast action shooting.
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Silver Award
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70%
dpreview score
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Sony Alpha NEX NEX3A/B Digital Camera with Interchangeable Lens (Black) | $799.00 |
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens... | $399.99 |
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Silver)-... | Too low to display |
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Compact Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/16mm Lens... | $320.00 |
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Red)-... | $215.00 |
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens... | $399.99 |
Sony NEX-3NL/B Compact Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera Kit (Black) | $448.00 |
Sony NEX-3NL/W Compact Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera Kit (White) | $448.00 |
Sony NEX-F3K/B 16.1 MP Compact System Camera with 18-55mm Lens (Black) | $449.99 |
Sony NEX-3NL/W NEX-3N NEX3NL NEX3NLW Compact Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera Kit (White) Ultimate Bundle with 32GB SD Card, Spare Battery, Filter Kit, Padded Case, HDMI Cable, Card Reader + More | $469.00 |
Sony NEX-3NL/B NEX-3N NEX3NL NEX3NLB Compact Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera Kit (Black) Ultimate Bundle with 32GB SD Card, Spare Battery, Filter Kit, Padded Case, HDMI Cable, Card Reader + More | $459.00 |
Sony Alpha NEX NEX3A/B Digital Camera with Interchangeable Lens (Black) | $799.00 |
Sony NEX-6L/B 16.1 MP Compact Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 16-50mm Power Zoom Lens and 3-Inch LED (Black) | $798.00 |
Sony NEX-5RK/B 16.1 MP Compact Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 18-55mm Lenses (Black) | $503.99 |
Sony NEX-7 24.3 MP Compact Interchangeable Lens Camera with 18-55mm Lens | $1,248.00 |
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