Image quality
Rating the image quality is hardly an easy
task. Many APS-C cameras we saw recently could handle most of the scene pretty
well, but the kit lenses seem to be quite unusual. As you might know, a 500USd
mirror less interchangeable kit will not go with the most powerful lens, and
the image distortion may be clear here. However, let alone these problems, 3N does
a nice job.
Colors are vibrant and accurate at all
sensitivity settings, and the details are pretty sharp. NEX-3N provides
sensitivity range from ISO 200 to 16,000, allowing much flexibility. If you
take photos for the web, you will be pleased when shooting to ISO 6,400 – at
ISO 12,800, noise becomes visible in the dark areas of the frame even when
watching images at 12% of their full size. And at ISO 16,000, you can see the
noise in the dark areas at 8% of overview. However, noise barely exists at ISO
3,200 and down, so if you’re printing images, you can increase sensitivity
quite a lot.
Colors
are vibrant and accurate at all sensitivity settings, and the details are
pretty sharp.
At video field, 3N can record at 1,080/24p or
60i in AVCHD mode, or 1,440x1,080 and VGA in MP4 mode. We chose to record most
of the clips with the MP4 output, and the videos looked smooth and sharp, with
accurate exposure and color balance. Sensitivity certainly plays a part here,
and we’re successful when recording video with less noise even inside a house.
The camera consists of optical stabilization system, which proves to be
convenient for the video clips, but the movement is worth noticing in the
handheld shots. The companion power zoom lens can be used while recording – mic
doesn’t record any zoom or focus noise, but zooming is not as smooth as we
prefer, as you can see in the following clip.
Competitors
Sony excels in calculating the price of NEX-3N.
With 500 USD including retractable 16-50mm power zoom lens, this camera is
obviously a good bargain. It’s an incredibly powerful device that even the
professional photographers don’t hesitate to bring it, though it won’t replace
the more expensive models for premium shots. The biggest competitors are also
from Sony, it’s up to you to believe in this or not – NEX-5R is a strange
camera adding a second control wheel, Wi-Fi, touch-supported LCD and faster
performance with the price of 650 USD along with the older 18-55mm zoom lens. NEX-6
adds OLED EVF and dedicated mode dial, and shipping with the new 16-50mm lens
coming at 900 USD. you shouldn’t overlook the very impressive point-and-shoot
RX100 camera, pricing at 650 USD.
There’re some other major competitors in
the mirrorless camera market, with the compelling models from Olympus,
Panasonic and Samsung and at the lower level is Canon, Nikon and Pentax.
Olympus E-PL5 is a 550USD bargain with the 14-42mm lens, with multi-axis
stabilization system and touch screen. From Panasonic, you can consider Lumix
GX1, retail price of which is 450 USD in addition with a 14-42mm kit lens. For
its part, Samsung has NX1100, retail price is 600 USD with the 20-50mm lens and
the free reduplication of Adobe Lightroom. Canon fans who have lots of patience
may consider EOS M – a regular model with the price of 570USD with 18-55mm lens
– while the Nikon photographers should consider J3, available at 550 USD with 10-30mm
optic.
Olympus
E-PL5
Panasonic
Lumix GX1
Samsung
NX1100
Conclusion
Is this the most powerful NEX of Sony till
now? Nut up to date, it’s the most impressive basic Sony ILC we’ve ever seen,
and one of the best choices with the price under 600 USD. the image quality is
excellent, design is solid (but compact) and the new retractable 16-50mm zoom
lens of Sony, all of them makes NEX-3N become a suitable camera for those who
love interchangeable lens making the leap from the point-and-shoot compact
camera, or even the current NEX-3/C3/F3 owners who are ready for something
newer. It’s an excellently powerful camera, also looks amazing. We won’t
hesitate when choosing it.
Is
this the most powerful NEX of Sony till now?
At first, we announced NEX-3N is the first
basic mirrorless interchangeable camera of Sony including built-in flash.
However, NEX-F3 has pop-up flash and component connectors.
Info
·
Price: $500
Advantages
·
Excellent performance and image quality
·
Stable design and construction
·
Surprisingly cheap for a mirroless kit
·
16-50mm power zoom lens inside the box
Disadvantages
·
No accessory port or mic input
·
Power zoom is too abnormal for video
Key point
·
The latest mirror less interchangeable camera of
Sony is hard to be beaten.
Technical specs
|
Lens Mount
·
Sony A-mount: NO
·
Sony E-mount: YES
Lens Compatibility
·
All types of Sony A-mount lenses: YES
(Requires α-Mount adaptor)
·
All types of Sony E-mount lenses: YES
·
Minolta & Konica Minolta α/MAXXUM/DYNAX
lenses: YES (Requires α-Mount adaptor)
Image Sensory
·
Image sensor type: Exmor™ APS HD CMOS sensor
·
Image sensor color filter: R, G, B, Primary
color
·
Size (mm): 23.5 x 15.6mm (APS-C size)
Camera
·
Total sensor Pixels (megapixels): Approx. 16.5
·
Effective Pixels (megapixels): Approx. 16.1
·
Automatic White Balance: YES
·
White balance: preset selection: Auto WB,
Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash
·
White balance: custom setting: YES
·
White balance: types of color temperature: 2,500
– 9,900 k (G7 to M7,15-step) (A7 to B7,15-step)
·
White balance bracketing: NO
·
ISO Sensitivity Setting: ISO200 - 16000
equivalent
SteadyShot INSIDE
·
System: Sensor-shift mechanism: NO
·
SteadyShot INSIDE scale (in viewfinder): NO
·
Camera-Shake warning (in viewfinder): NO
·
SteadyShot INSIDE capability: NO
|
