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Sony Alpha NEX-3

Based on 37 reviews

Excellent:

13
Good:

19
Average:

5
Bad:

0

Pros

Good JPEG image quality even in dark conditions, large LCD screen with easy icon-based UI, 720p HD video with stereo sound capture, mechanical zoom and focusing rings, HDR and focus bracketing
Quick Focusing, Compact Design, Built-in Help, Acceptable Image Quality at High ISOs
Affordable, image quality, small size
Small body, APS-C sensor, Easy-to-use interface
Stylish, compact body, DSLR-quality photos, Adjustable LCD, Shoots crisp and smooth 1080i video, Intuitive Sweep Panorama mode
Competitive price. Superb image quality, low-light performance, and speed. Smallest compact interchangeable lens camera currently available. Beautiful, tilting 3-inch LCD. Silent focus when recording HD video. Digital accessory port. Support for HDMI-CEC

Cons

RAW image quality could have been better, no optical viewfinder, slow shot-to-shot speed, not really compact, almost all controls inside menu and very little outside, expensive
Poor Battery Life, LCD is a Fingerprint Magnet, High ISO Unavailable in iAuto Mode
Fiddly flash unit, excessive menu digging, limited to three current lenses
Lens release button could be more accessible, Menu system could be much better, Some aspects of handling
Short battery life, Confusing menu structure
No native compatibility with existing Alpha lenses. Limited E-Mount lens selection. No EVF option currently available. No manual control over shutter speed and aperture while recording video.

By PC Advisor on April 19, 2011

The Sony Alpha NEX-3 is a good starter option, but both the second-generation Olympus PEN E-PL2 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 are more fully rounded packages....

80
By Macworld UK on April 18, 2011

Like the Samsung, Sony’s NEX-3 also boasts a 14.2-megapixel APS-C-sized sensor. Twinned with the dual lens kit we were sent – featuring both a 16mm f/2.8 fixed focal length pancake lens for those who want the most diminutive camera and lens...

80
By Cameras UK on April 01, 2011

The Sony Nex-3 is not a cheap option, but it is a quality option. You can pick up the majority of features this camera has with an entry level Digital SLR and pay less if you prefer to. The main attractions are its picture quality and a portability...

85
By Trusted Reviews on March 14, 2011

Promising digital SLR-type image quality from more compact proportions, the mirror-less interchangeable lens 'compact system camera' (CSC) market is undergoing a period of exceptional growth. It kicked off with Panasonic's introduction of...

80
By TechTree on March 01, 2011

The Sony NEX-3 is an excellent performer, though the image quality cannot be compared with a DSLR. It gives you complete control over the camera and the manual focus along with the manual zoom allows you to achieve some amazing results not possible...

70
By Tech2 on February 09, 2011

The results are outstanding. 3D Sweep Panorama shoots 3D images, but they can only be viewed with 3D glasses on 3D TVs. The camera has a mini HDMI jack for video output. We also liked the built-in shooting guide. Shooting tips can be accessed by the...

80
By DigitalVersus on January 18, 2011

The Sony NEX-3 isn't as stylish or as compact as the NEX-5, but it's also less expensive. Since picture quality in the two models is identical, the NEX-3 is an excellent choice for anyone who's happy with 720p video and who isn't looking...

80
By PC Authority on November 11, 2010

Can Sony's svelte NEX-3 compete with its bigger brother and the camera elite?...

83
By Expert Reviews on November 11, 2010

The new firmware makes a remarkable difference and the NEX-3 produces identical image quality to the NEX-5. It’s £110 cheaper and that makes it mighty attractive....

80
By TechSmart.co.za on October 05, 2010

We really liked the Sony Alpha NEX-3, more so than its competition from the Micro Four Thirds stable, the Olympus PEN E-PL1. The NEX-3 is small but felt good in hand, captured good quality pictures (although its lens gets criticised) and was a breeze...

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