Sony NEX-3N Verses Sony NEX-F3 Comparison

The new Sony NEX-3N is this year's update to the Sony NEX-F3, and features a whole new body, as well as improvements to image quality thanks to a new BOINZ image processing engine. The new body is much more compact than other Sony NEX-3 series cameras, and is designed to look less "plasticy" than previous cameras. The NEX-3N is shown on the left, with the NEX-F3 on the right in these images.

Read our Sony NEX-F3 Review
Read our Sony NEX-3N Hands-On Preview

Sony NEX-3N Vs Sony NEX-F3 Features

Both cameras feature a 16.1 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, the Sony NEX E-Mount, a 3 inch screen on the rear and are both the entry level models in the Sony NEX line-up, with the NEX-3N replacing the NEX-F3.

Key Features:

• 16.1 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
• Sony NEX E Mount
• 25-point AF
• 3inch tilting screen (460k vs 921k dots on NEX-F3)
• Full HD video recording with stereo sound
• Built in pop-up flash
• New zoom lever on NEX-3N
• Auto object framing - auto macro, auto AF tracking framing added to NEX-3N
• Area based Noise Reduction added to NEX-3N
• ISO button added to NEX-3N

On the rear, the two cameras look fairly similar, both featuring a 3inch screen, however the NEX-F3 features 921k dots, whereas the NEX-3N has 460k dots. Another difference can be found in how much the screen tilts, with both tilting up for self portraits, however, the NEX-3N screen does not tilt backwards like the NEX-F3.



On top, the NEX-3N is much smaller, with the flash positioned above the lens mount, and the accessory port is now gone. The NEX-3N has added a zoom control around the shutter release which is now on the top plate. Both cameras feature a focus-assist LED, as well as dedicated video record buttons. The NEX-3N adds a label for the ISO button on the 4-way controller / scroll wheel to help making changes to this setting easier for beginners.



On the bottom, the NEX-F3 has a seperate battery and memory card compartment with both of these on the bottom, and this would make it difficult or impossible to change the memory card with the camera mounted to a tripod. On the NEX-3N, the memory card slot is now on the side of the camera with the USB/HDMI connections. With a more compact body the NEX-3N weighs less, at 210 grams body only, compared to 255 grams on the NEX-F3 body only, as well as improved battery life with 480 shots compared to 410 on the NEX-F3.



The Sony NEX-F3 currently costs £399 with the standard sized 18-55mm OSS kit lens, whereas the Sony NEX-3N has an RRP of £400 with the much more compact 16-50mm OSS Power Zoom lens, which makes the price of the new camera very competitive.

Read our Sony NEX-F3 Review
Read our Sony NEX-3N Hands-On Preview