Sony NEX-3K/S Sony - Review 🏆

The Sony NEX-3K is a compact mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was released in 2010. It features a 14.2 megapixel APS-C sized CMOS sensor and Bionz image processor for capturing detailed images and Full HD video.

The NEX-3K has a sleek, stylish design with a magnesium alloy body that weighs just over half a pound. It eschews the traditional mode dial and buttons found on DSLRs for a simplified interface consisting of a power switch, shutter button and control wheel. This allows for quick access to key settings while maintaining a clean, minimalist aesthetic.

As a mirrorless camera, the NEX-3K utilizes Sony's E-mount system which allows for compatibility with both E-mount lenses designed for these cameras as well as A-mount lenses with an additional adapter. This gives users access to a wide range of lens options in a compact form factor.

Overall, the Sony NEX-3K aims to provide DSLR-level image quality and performance in a highly portable body. Its combination of impressive imaging capabilities, flexible lens options and stylish design make it an appealing choice for those looking to upgrade from a point and shoot or smartphone camera.

Design

The Sony NEX-3K/S has a compact and lightweight design perfect for traveling and everyday use. Despite its small size, the camera feels sturdy and well-built thanks to its magnesium alloy body. It weighs just 239g including battery and memory card, making it easy to carry around all day without fatigue.

The smooth curves and modern styling give the NEX-3K/S an attractive look that stands out from other interchangeable lens cameras. Its matte black finish resists fingerprints and scratches. The camera is available in silver or black to match different style preferences.

The compact body still manages to fit a nice handgrip that allows for a secure and comfortable hold. The thoughtful button layout provides easy access to key controls. Overall, the design emphasizes portability without compromising usability.

Image Sensor

The Sony NEX-3K features a 14.2 megapixel CMOS sensor, which delivers detailed images with rich tones and textures. The high resolution of 4592 x 3056 pixels allows for large prints up to poster sizes, as well as flexibility for aggressive cropping.

The sensor itself measures 23.4 x 15.6mm, which is a good size for an APS-C sensor. This provides tighter control over depth of field for portraits compared to smaller compact cameras. Low light performance is also quite good for its class, making the NEX-3K a versatile choice for both daytime and night photography needs.

Overall the 14.2MP CMOS sensor provides an excellent balance of resolution, low light performance, and creative control that exceeds traditional compact cameras. This makes the NEX-3K a great option for enthusiasts looking to upgrade from a basic point and shoot.

Lens Mount

The Sony NEX-3K features Sony's E-mount lens system, which is optimized for compact cameras with APS-C sized image sensors. The E-mount provides a short flange focal distance that enables wide-angle lenses to be made more compact than lenses for traditional DSLR mounts.

The NEX-3K is compatible with Sony's line of E-mount lenses as well as lenses from Zeiss and other third party manufacturers. Since the E-mount is relatively new compared to other lens mounts, the selection of native E-mount lenses is still somewhat limited. However, using optional adapters allows the NEX-3K to utilize a wide variety of lenses from other mounts like Sony Alpha and Minolta A-mount lenses.

The compact design of E-mount lenses pairs nicely with the small form factor of the NEX-3K. For example, the lightweight 16mm f/2.8 E-mount prime lens helps keep the camera setup portable for everyday shooting. While an adapter can allow use of larger lenses, the handling balance may not be ideal with very large full frame lenses. Overall the E-mount system provides a good range of lens options for the NEX-3K in a compact package.

Video Recording

The Sony NEX-3K is capable of recording high-definition video in AVCHD and MP4 formats. It can record 1080i video at 60 fps or 1080i video at 60fps in AVCHD format. For MP4, it can record 1080p video at 30fps or 720p video at 30fps.

The AVCHD format provides high quality HD video but the files take up more space. The MP4 format is more compressed and easier to share online. Both formats provide crisp, detailed video recording from the NEX-3K's 14MP image sensor.

One nice feature is that you can take a photo while recording video by fully pressing the shutter button. This allows you to capture split-second moments without interrupting the video. Overall, the NEX-3K provides very good HD video recording capabilities for a compact interchangeable lens camera.

ISO Range

The Sony NEX-3K/S compact camera has an ISO range of 200 to 12800. This indicates the light sensitivity range of the image sensor, with a lower number meaning less sensitivity to light, and a higher number indicating more sensitivity.

For a point and shoot compact camera, having a relatively wide ISO range from 200 to 12800 is beneficial. The lower ISO settings of 200-400 will produce cleaner images in bright daylight conditions. As the available light decreases, higher ISO settings like 800-3200 can be used to get faster shutter speeds to prevent blurry photos. The highest ISO 12800 setting allows the camera sensor to be extremely sensitive to light, enabling handheld low light shots without a flash. However, high ISO settings above 3200 will introduce more noise and grain in images. Overall, the NEX-3K/S provides a very versatile range of light sensitivity to handle different shooting situations.

Autofocus

The Sony NEX-3K features a fast and accurate 25-point contrast-detect autofocus system. It can achieve focus in around 0.3 seconds, which is very quick for a compact mirrorless camera.

For flexibility, it offers several autofocus modes including:

• Single-shot AF - for stationary subjects
• Continuous AF - for moving subjects
• Automatic AF - camera chooses single or continuous
• Direct Manual Focus - for manual control but with AF assistance

The 25 focus points cover a broad area of the frame, around 80% both horizontally and vertically. This makes it easy to focus on off-center subjects without needing to reframe.

Overall, the autofocus system is a standout feature for this class of camera, offering DSLR-like focusing speeds and modes in a much more compact body. It's ideal for street, documentary or action photography.

Display

The Sony NEX-3K/S features a 3-inch rear LCD with 921,000 dots resolution. This provides a sharp and detailed preview for composing shots and reviewing images and video.

The LCD can tilt up by 80 degrees and down by 45 degrees, providing good flexibility when shooting from high or low angles. However, it does not fully articulate or flip out, which may limit shooting at more extreme angles compared to cameras with vari-angle LCDs.

The display is bright and visible in most lighting conditions. It has an anti-reflective coating to help see the screen clearly even under bright sunlight. Overall, the rear LCD is very good for a camera in this class. The resolution is on par with entry-level DSLRs and the tilt function adds versatility.

Connectivity

The Sony NEX-3K has several ports and wireless capabilities for connectivity.

• For ports, it includes a mini HDMI port for connecting to an HDTV and a USB 2.0 port for transferring photos and videos to a computer. There's also an accessory port for connecting additional accessories like an external flash or electronic viewfinder.

• For wireless, the NEX-3K has built-in WiFi which allows you to transfer images wirelessly to a smartphone or tablet using the PlayMemories Mobile app. This makes it easy to share photos online straight from the camera. The camera can also connect directly to a WiFi network to enable image transfers to a home network.

• The NEX-3K does not have built-in NFC or Bluetooth capabilities. The WiFi system works fairly well but can sometimes be a bit slow or finicky to connect. Overall the connectivity options are decent but not as robust as some higher-end mirrorless cameras.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Lightweight and compact design makes it very portable
• Large APS-C sensor provides excellent image quality
• Fast autofocus with 99 phase detection AF points
• Shoots full HD 1080p video
• Good high ISO performance up to ISO 12800
• Tilting 3 inch LCD screen useful for shooting at odd angles
• Built-in pop-up flash

Cons

• No built-in electronic viewfinder
• Limited native lens selection
• No in-body image stabilization
• No microphone input for better audio recording
• No touchscreen capability
• Battery life could be better

Overall, the Sony NEX-3K delivers excellent image quality in a very compact body. The large APS-C sensor provides detailed images with good high ISO performance. Fast autofocus, tilting LCD, and full HD video add to its appeal. Drawbacks are the lack of a built-in EVF, limited lens options, and short battery life. But for those seeking a small interchangeable lens camera that doesn't compromise on image quality, the NEX-3K is a great choice.