Sony Alpha 7CR vs Sony Alpha NEX-3

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Alpha 7CR compared with Alpha NEX-3
SonyAlpha 7CRSonyAlpha NEX-3
Overview
ReleasedSeptember 2023June 2010
Image and sensor
Camera typeMirrorlessMirrorless
Sensor formatFull frameAPS-C
Sensor typeBack-illuminated Exmor R CMOSExmor APS HD CMOS
Sensor dimensions35.7 × 23.8 mm23.4 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution61 MP14.2 MP
Largest image9504 × 63364592 × 3056
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–32000200–12800
Sensor detailApproximately 62.5 million total pixels; maker maximum movie effective resolution 50.8 MP; four- or sixteen-image pixel-shift capture requires assembly in dedicated computer softwareCharge-protection coating and electromagnetic vibration of the optical low-pass filter for dust reduction
Image formatsJPEG, HEIF and RAW (Sony ARW 5.0); 14-bit RAW output; compressed, lossless-compressed and uncompressed RAW options; XAVC S, XAVC S-I and XAVC HS moviesJPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony's Japanese launch table specifies ARW 2.2
ISO detailStandard still-image and movie ISO 100–32000; still-image extension ISO 50–102400Standard ISO 200–12800; Auto ISO 200–1600
Image processorBIONZ XR and dedicated AI processing unitBIONZ
Lens and shooting
Lens mountSony E-mountSony E-mount
StabilisationSensor shiftOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst8 fps7 fps
Lens detailInterchangeable E-mount; ILCE-7CR is supplied without a lens. The photo shows both body colours.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.
AutofocusFast Hybrid AF; up to 693 phase-detection points for stills or movies; EV -4 to 20 at ISO 100 with an f/2 lens; current maker subjects include automatic selection, humans, animals, birds, insects, cars, trains and aircraftContrast detection; 25-point multipoint, centre or flexible-spot areas; single or continuous autofocus, direct manual focus and manual focus
ShutterElectronic first-curtain mechanical shutter up to 1/4000 second; silent electronic shutter up to 1/8000 second; 30-second exposures and Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second full-frame or 1/200 second APS-C with Sony flashElectronically controlled vertical-traverse focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second
Burst detailUp to 8 fps Hi+; maker buffer approximately 36 compressed RAW, 16 lossless-compressed RAW or 14 uncompressed RAW images; up to 320 Fine JPEGs. Amateur Photographer found 8 fps requires compressed RAW without live view, and 6 fps with live view or lossless-compressed RAW.Approximately 7 fps in Speed Priority Continuous, with focus and exposure fixed at the first frame; approximately 2.3 fps normal continuous advance
Stabilisation detailFive-axis sensor shift; maker claim 7 stops under CIPA pitch/yaw testing with the FE 50 mm f/1.2 GM lens and long-exposure noise reduction off; current maker movie modes include Dynamic Active and Active electronic correctionNo sensor-shift stabilisation (PhotographyBlog); optical correction requires a compatible OSS lens. The 18–55mm kit lens has OSS, while the 16mm does not.
FlashNo built-in flash; Multi Interface Shoe supports compatible external flashSupplied detachable flash; guide number 7 at ISO 100 in metres; approximately four-second recycle time
Exposure controls1200-zone evaluative metering; exposure compensation ±5 EVIntelligent 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 resolution3840 × 2160 at 60 fps1280 × 720 at 30 fps
Video detailInternal 3840 × 2160 up to 60p NTSC or 50p PAL, with 10-bit 4:2:2 options; 60p/50p narrows the angle of view by approximately 1.2×. Photography Blog identifies oversampled 4K 30p from approximately 6.2K in Super 35 mode. XAVC S-I 4K reaches 600 Mbps at 60p; Full HD up to 120p NTSC or 100p PAL. HDMI can output 3848 × 2168 16-bit RAW at up to 60p to a compatible external recorder. S-Log3, S-Cinetone, user LUT display and AI Auto Framing.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.
AudioBuilt-in stereo microphone; 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets; digital-audio Multi Interface Shoe; compatible accessories support four-channel 24-bit LPCMBuilt-in stereo microphone; MPEG-4 AAC-LC audio; optional ECM-SST1 accessory microphone
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderElectronicNone
Screen size3″3″
Screen dots1,036,800921,600
TouchscreenYesNo
Tilting screenYesYes
Display detailSide-opening vari-angle touchscreen; opens approximately 176° and rotates approximately 270°; touch menu operationTruBlack wide TFT; tilts approximately 80° up and 45° down; no touchscreen (PhotographyBlog)
Viewfinder detail0.39-type XGA OLED; 2,359,296 dots; approximately 0.70× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity; 60 or 120 fps refreshNo built-in viewfinder (PhotographyBlog); optional FDA-SV1 optical finder is designed for the E 16mm lens
Connections and design
Wi-FiYes–
BluetoothYes–
Battery life (maker's claim)530 photographs330 photographs
Body weight430 g239 g (better)
Release detailSony Australia specifies retail availability from September 2023. Alpha 7CR is a higher-resolution compact model alongside Alpha 7C II. Current maker specifications include later-supported subject recognition and movie-stabilisation features.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 mediaOne SD slot supporting UHS-I and UHS-II; no CFexpress supportMemory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
PortsUSB-C (USB 3.2 at 5 Gbps), Micro HDMI Type D, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets and digital-audio Multi Interface Shoe–
Wireless connectionsWi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac at 2.4 and 5 GHz; Bluetooth 4.2; no NFC; Creators’ App remote operation and image transfer–
Battery life detailNP-FZ100; current Sony CIPA claim approximately 530 photographs with LCD or 490 with viewfinder; actual movie claim approximately 100 minutes with LCD or 95 with viewfinder. Both launch-period reviews give lower 520/470-shot figures.NP-FW50; approximately 330 photographs under CIPA conditions
ChargingUSB-C in-camera charging and power supply with USB Power Delivery; maker specifies an 18 W or higher USB PD source and 3 A cableSupplied BC-VW1 external charger
DimensionsApproximately 124.0 × 71.1 × 63.4 mm; depth from grip to monitor 58.6 mmApproximately 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 detailApproximately 430 g body only; 515 g with battery and memory card; both exclude lens. Photography Blog gives 525 g labelled body only and Amateur Photographer gives 524 g; maker’s explicit figures are used.Approximately 239 g camera only; 297 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo; lens excluded
MaterialsMaker specifies recycled materials including SORPLAS in the body, depending on production timing–
ColoursSilver/black or blackBlack, red or white; silver was a Sony Style exclusive in Japan
In the boxSony Australia confirms the GP-X2 extension grip is included; no lensNP-FW50 battery, BC-VW1 charger, USB cable, detachable flash and case, shoulder strap, lens cap and software CD; lenses depend on kit

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