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Sony Alpha NEX-3 · Photo source
Sony · Alpha
Alpha NEX-3
Sony's original NEX-3 combines a 14.2 MP APS-C sensor, interchangeable E-mount lenses and a tilting screen in a small mirrorless body, with 720p movie recording.
- Type
- Mirrorless
- Sensor
- APS-C
- Megapixels
- 14.2
- Lens
- Sony E-mount
- Video
- 1280 × 720 at 30 fps
- Body weight
- 239 g
What reviewers say
Both reviewers praised low-light performance and the tilting screen but found the menus awkward. Imaging Resource was more enthusiastic about detail; PhotographyBlog found zoom-kit images softer than expected. They disagreed on the grip, which PhotographyBlog preferred and Imaging Resource found shallow. Imaging Resource used early firmware and notes that later updates addressed some control complaints.
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specImage and sensor
- Camera type
- Mirrorless
- Sensor format
- APS-C
- Sensor type
- Exmor APS HD CMOS
- Sensor dimensions
- 23.4 × 15.6 mm
- Effective resolution
- 14.2 MP
- Largest image
- 4592 × 3056
- RAW recording
- Yes
- Standard ISO range
- 200–12800
- Sensor detail
- Charge-protection coating and electromagnetic vibration of the optical low-pass filter for dust reduction
- Image formats
- JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony's Japanese launch table specifies ARW 2.2
- ISO detail
- Standard ISO 200–12800; Auto ISO 200–1600
- Image processor
- BIONZ
Lens and shooting
- Lens mount
- Sony E-mount
- Stabilisation
- Optical lens stabilisation
- Maximum continuous burst
- 7 fps
- Lens detail
- Launch kits contain E 16mm F2.8 and/or E 18–55mm F3.5–5.6 OSS. The original LA-EA1 adapter supports A-mount lenses with manual focusing at launch; later firmware is separate.
- Autofocus
- Contrast detection; 25-point multipoint, centre or flexible-spot areas; single or continuous autofocus, direct manual focus and manual focus
- Shutter
- Electronically controlled vertical-traverse focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second
- Burst detail
- Approximately 7 fps in Speed Priority Continuous, with focus and exposure fixed at the first frame; approximately 2.3 fps normal continuous advance
- Stabilisation detail
- No sensor-shift stabilisation (PhotographyBlog); optical correction requires a compatible OSS lens. The 18–55mm kit lens has OSS, while the 16mm does not.
- Flash
- Supplied detachable flash; guide number 7 at ISO 100 in metres; approximately four-second recycle time
- Exposure controls
- Intelligent Auto, program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual; Sweep Panorama, DRO, three-exposure Auto HDR and six-exposure Hand-held Twilight or Anti Motion Blur
Video
- Highest video resolution
- 1280 × 720 at 30 fps
- Video detail
- MP4 with MPEG-4 Visual compression; 1280 × 720 at 30p in Fine or Standard quality, or 640 × 480 at 30p. These are the NEX-3 figures in Sony's Japanese announcement; AVCHD Full HD belongs to the NEX-5.
- Audio
- Built-in stereo microphone; MPEG-4 AAC-LC audio; optional ECM-SST1 accessory microphone
Screen and viewfinder
- Viewfinder
- None
- Screen size
- 3″
- Screen dots
- 921,600
- Touchscreen
- No
- Tilting screen
- Yes
- Display detail
- TruBlack wide TFT; tilts approximately 80° up and 45° down; no touchscreen (PhotographyBlog)
- Viewfinder detail
- No built-in viewfinder (PhotographyBlog); optional FDA-SV1 optical finder is designed for the E 16mm lens
Connections and design
- Battery life (maker's claim)
- 330 photographs
- Body weight
- 239 g
- Release detail
- Sony Japan specifies 10 June 2010 for NEX-3A, NEX-3K and NEX-3D kits. This is the original NEX-3, not the NEX-C3, F3 or 3N.
- Recording media
- Memory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
- Battery life detail
- NP-FW50; approximately 330 photographs under CIPA conditions
- Charging
- Supplied BC-VW1 external charger
- Dimensions
- Approximately 117.2 × 62.6 × 33.4 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions; Sony's separate 25.4 mm thinnest-section figure excludes the grip and mount
- Weight detail
- Approximately 239 g camera only; 297 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo; lens excluded
- Colours
- Black, red or white; silver was a Sony Style exclusive in Japan
- In the box
- NP-FW50 battery, BC-VW1 charger, USB cable, detachable flash and case, shoulder strap, lens cap and software CD; lenses depend on kit
Pros and cons
Pros
- APS-C sensor with RAW recording
- Tilting 921,600-dot screen
- Supplied detachable flash
Cons
- No built-in viewfinder or sensor stabilisation
- Maximum video resolution is 720p
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Sensor | Megapixels | Lens | Video | Body weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirrorless | APS-C | 14.2 | Sony E-mount | 1920 × 1080 | 229 g | Jun 2010 | |
| Mirrorless | APS-C | 16.1 | Sony E-mount | 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps | 210 g | Sept 2011 | |
| Mirrorless | APS-C | 16.2 | Sony E-mount | 1280 × 720 at 30 fps | 225 g | Jun 2011 |
Sources
Photo: sony.jp
- Sony Alpha NEX-5 black and silver cameras and NEX-3 red camera shown together in the maker-labelled launch lineup: Sony Japan, exact NEX-3 product/press context; complete supplied composition and background retained.
- Sony Alpha NEX-3 silver camera beside the original collaboration shoulder case: Sony Japan, exact NEX-3 product/press context; complete supplied composition and background retained.
- Sony Alpha NEX-3 silver camera with optional FDA-SV1 optical viewfinder shown beside the viewfinder: Sony Japan, exact NEX-3 product/press context; complete supplied composition and background retained.
- Sony Alpha NEX-5 and NEX-3 cameras fitted in their labelled LCS-EMB1A and LCS-EMB2A half-cases, beside the available case colours: Sony Japan joint NEX-3/NEX-5 launch; labelled model-specific fitted half-case composition, complete supplied canvas retained.
