Sony's interchangeable-lens Alpha NEX-3
The Alpha NEX-3, the smallest interchangeable-lens model to date, represents Sony's entry-level model in the company's first generation of products in that market.
The entry-level model in Sony's duo of interchangeable-lens debuts ranks as the smallest model in its class to date. Nearly identical to its slightly more expensive sibling, they have two primary differences: slightly different body designs, with the higher-end NEX-5 composed of magnesium alloy compared to the NEX-3's polycarbonate, and the NEX-5 offers full HD AVCHD video recording. For those perks you pay about $100 more. Both cameras are slated to ship in July and will come in kits with either an 18-55mm or 16mm pancake prime lens. (Read my hands-on with the NEX-5 for a description of the features, lens and menu system.)
As an aside, Sony also indicated that it's working an interchangeable lens camcorder with APS-C HD CMOS sensor that will use the same lens mount on a more traditional camcorder design. There are no real details as yet.
At its lower price, these are the models against which the NEX-3 will compete and how its specs stack up:
| Sony Alpha NEX-3 | Olympus E-PL1 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 | |
| Sensor (effective resolution) | 14.2-megapixel Exmor CMOS | 12.3-megapixel Live MOS | 12.1-megapixel Live MOS |
| 23.4mm x 15.6mm | 17.3mm x 13mm | 17.3mm x 13mm | |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 200 - ISO 12,800 | ISO 100 - ISO 3,200 | ISO 100 - ISO 6,400 |
| Focal-length multiplier | 1.5x | 2x | 2x |
| Continuous shooting | 2.3 fps unlimited JPEG/8 raw |
3.0 fps n/a |
3.2 fps unlimited JPEG/7 raw |
| Viewfinder | None | Optional plug-in articulating EVF | EVF 1,440,000 dots 0.7x magnification |
| Autofocus | 25-point contrast AF | 11-area contrast AF | 23-area contrast AF |
| Metering | 40 segment | 324 area | 144 zone |
| Shutter | 30-1/4000 sec.; bulb; 1/160 flash sync | 60-1/2000 sec; bulb to 30 minutes | 60-1/4000 sec; bulb to 4 minutes |
| Flash | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LCD | 3-inch tilting 921,600 dots |
2.7-inch fixed 230,000 dots |
3-inch fixed 460,000 dots |
| Image stabilization | Optical | Sensor shift | Optical |
| Video (max resolution at 30fps) | 1440x1080/30p H.264 MPEG-4 | 720p Motion JPEG AVI | 720p Motion JPEG MOV |
| Audio I/O | Mic | Mic | None |
| Battery life (CIPA rating) | 330 shots | 290 shots | 380 shots |
| Dimensions (WHD, inches) | 4.6 x 2.5 x 1.4 | 4.5 x 2.8 x 1.6 | 4.9 x 3.3 x 2.9 |
| Body weight with battery and card (ounces) | 10 (est) | 12.4 | 13.9 |
| Mfr. Price | n/a | $499 (est) | n/a |
| $599.99 (with 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 lens) | $599.99 (with 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 lens) | $599.95 (with 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 lens) |
|
| $549.99 (with 16mm f2.8 lens) | $599.99 (with 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 lens) | $599.95 (with 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 lens) |
As with the NEX-5, I think the lack of an EVF option is a mistake, though the tilting LCD gives it a different sort of advantage over its competitors, and the 18-55mm kit lens feels better but doesn't perform geometrically as well as Panasonic's equivalent. Still, its compact size is a definite attraction, as is the potentially superior video quality. And if its photo quality matches that of the NEX-5, it should have high ISO performance to rival or best Olympus. We'll let you know once we've gotten a chance to test it.
