In the past we've given a few Editors' Choice awards to cameras in the Sony NEX series. The latest entry-level model, the Sony Alpha NEX-3N ($499.99 direct with 16-50mm lens), comes in at a lower asking price than its predecessor, the NEX-F3, but does so at the cost of some useful features. It does include a smaller, collapsible power zoom kit lens and an excellent 16-megapixel image sensor, but the camera's LCD is not as sharp, support for an add-on electronic viewfinder has been dropped, and burst shooting is slower. These cut corners prevent it from earning our Editors' Choice award for under-$1,000 compact interchangeable lens cameras, that stays with the well-rounded, better-performing Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5.
Design and Features
When you consider that it packs the same size image sensor as a D-SLR, the sheer compactness of the NEX-3N is impressive. Its body measures 2.3 by 4.4 by 1.4 inches (HWD) and weighs 9.5 ounces. Adding the included 16-50mm Retractable Zoom Lens just about doubles the depth and adds 4.1 ounces to the package. The closest size compact interchangeable lens camera we've seen is the Olympus PEN E-PM2 at?2.5 by 4.1 by 1.3 inches and 9.5 ounces without a lens. Its lens also features a collapsible design, but is a manual rather than a power zoom. The 3N does have a built-in flash, a feature lacking in many small mirrorless cameras, including the E-PM2. It's on a hinged neck, giving you the option of firing it directly at your subject or tilting it back with your finger in order to bounce light off a ceiling for softer illumination.
The control layout will be familiar to anyone who has picked up an NEX camera before. Up top you'll find the power switch?it's a physical lever on this model?as well as a Play button, the flash release, the shutter release, and a dedicated Movie button. New to the 3N is a zoom rocker, which like the power switch is integrated with the shutter release button. If you're using the included power zoom lens it will zoom in and out, a familiar feeling for users moving up from a point-and-shoot camera. Sony doesn't have any other power zoom lenses in its lineup at this time, but that functionality would extend to any that are released in the future. There's also a zoom control on the lens barrel itself.
Rear controls include a control wheel with four directional buttons and two controls whose functions are displayed on the rear LCD. The top button takes you into the 3N's menu system, while the bottom can be reprogrammed to perform any number of functions. By default it activates a tip guide that will help you better understand camera functions. The directional controls allow you to adjust the amount of information displayed on the rear LCD, adjust the drive mode and activate the self-timer, and adjust exposure compensation (used to brighten or darken a scene). The right direction key is labeled as ISO, and will bring that setting up by default, but can be reprogrammed to bring up a menu that can adjust up to six camera settings on the fly. Each of these six slots is customizable. Once you have the camera configured to your liking, you will be able to avoid diving deep into its menu system, which is a good thing as it's easy to get lost in there.
The control wheel turns freely and its function varies based on the mode in which you're shooting. If you're in Aperture Priority, it adjusts the f-stop, and if you're in Shutter Priority it changes the shutter speed. If you're brave enough to venture into Manual mode you'll use the EV Compensation button to toggle between control over the f-stop or shutter speed. Inside the wheel is a big button; it's dedicated to bringing up a software screen that allows you to change the current shooting mode.
There's no EVF add-on for this NEX model, so you'll rely on the 3-inch hinged rear LCD for framing and focus confirmation. It only flips up, however, making it great for self-portraits or waist-level shooting, but not so useful if you need to hold the camera over your head to get a shot. Other mirrorless cameras, including the NEX-5R and the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5 feature displays that are hinged to tilt in either up or down. The resolution of the display is also a step back; last year's NEX-3F had a 920k-dot display that was exceptionally sharp and bright. The 460k-dot screen on this model is still bright, but it's just not as crisp as its predecessor.
Wi-Fi is becoming more common on cameras, but it's still not standard issue across the board. If you want wireless within the NEX system you'll have to move up to the NEX-5R or NEX-6, or you can look at the Samsung NX1000, which?also features an APS-C image sensor and has one of the best Wi-Fi implementations we've seen in this type of camera. Micro Four Thirds shooters who want to share photos with immediacy will want to read up on the
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