Digital Slr Cameras | P Moss Photography

Find Sony Alpha Nex 3 Interchangeable Lens at Amazon

A Digital SLR offers power, effigy quality and clarity various times better than any point-and-shoot camera along with features that grant you to custommake elements like aperture and exposure while taking the actual picture. Many of them also offer physical features like adaptable LCD viewfinder screens for shots with difficult angles and interchangeable lens for close-up shots to wide-angle shots to ultra-zoom shots. However, most DSLRs are big, bulky and not very user-friendly different from point-and-shoot cameras that are ultra-compact, lightweight and as easy to use as pointing and shooting. The Sony Alpha NEX-3 takes all of the good calibers for both a DSLR and a point-and-shoot camera and fuses it into one amazing digital camera.

Granted, the Sony Alpha NEX-3 isn’t the original ultra-compact digital camera with interchangeable lens. However it does offer a number of calibers which are different from any other digital camera of it is class. The introductory is the technology employed behind it, rather of a micro-four thirds effigy sensor, the Alpha NEX-3 uses a larger APS-C sensor, which is incisively what an actual DSLR uses so you get the same level of effigy quality and power as a DSLR. The second is that the camera is only somewhat larger than most point-and-shoots with a very comfortable DSLR grip. It has heft without being heavy and feels solid in spite of being capable to fit into any coat pocket or handbag.

The Sony Alpha NEX-3 looks unique; different from any digital camera or DSLR presently in the market, which is a good thing because it just looks awesome. Controls are a bit more fixed equated to a traditionalisti DSLR but you may still adjust aperture while taking pictures or change the NEX lens to a more suitable NEX lens. For now there are only a few NEX lenses but this number will increase soon. Thankfully, the NEX lenses are likewise better and more lightweight than their predecessors, so they make good replacements. The ultra-sharp LCD screen is to the full or entire extent adaptable so you may tilt it up or down as you require, making it very easy to take overhead and underhand shots.

Features and effigy quality are also high-end. Image quality is crystal clear with each and each detail caught in high definition. Unlike a DSLR, the camera includes an easy to use progressed panoramic mode, anti-motion blur mode and HDR mode. Like a DSLR the camera has no shutter lag, taking pictures the instant you press the shutter button and it is fast, while the habit interface is a marvel to use. Video looks outstanding with up to 720p HD at 30 frames per second and the camera lets you use either Sony’s Memory Stick Pro Duo cards or generic SDHC and SDXC cards. Overall, the Sony Alpha NEX-3 is an awful digital camera to have for anybody with DSLR aspirations. It combines the best of a DSLR into the best of a compact point-and-shoot. It isn’t the highest-end model in the NEX range altho but it is features are powerful sufficient to satisfy most users and professional

Sony Alpha Nex 3 Interchangeable Lens

The performance of a DSLR without the size and weight. The NEX-3 stands isolated as the world’s smallest interchangeable lens camera.3 Experience gorgeous HD movies,1 amazing low-light pictures, continuous shooting up to 7 fps, unbelievable panorama shots, and Live View on a tilting 3″ LCD4.

Amazon Sales Rank: #458 in Camera & Photo
Color: Black
Brand: Sony
Model: NEX3K/B
Dimensions: 4.69″ h x 8.70″ w x 5.75″ l, .52 pounds

14.2 MP APS (1.5x) Exmor CMOS Sensor, Extremely Compact HD Imaging System
Interchangeable 18-55mm E-Series Lens
720p HD / MP4 w/ MPEG-4 AAC-LC Audio. Up to ISO 12800 / Up to 7 fps
In-Camera 226° Sweep Panoramas
Memory Stick PRO Duo or SD/SDHC Cards (Not Included)
Tiltable 3.0″ LCD; Accepts A-mount lenses thru LA-EA1 adapter

Sony has engineered an impressively little camera that takes fantastically good photographs. In fact, the a NEX-3 camera has all quality of a DSLR in in regards to half the size and weight. Pulling off this minor miracle took a good deal of clever inventions in glass, silicon and software code.

Sony Alpha NEX-3 Overview and Highlights

Bigger Sensor, Better Pictures

Sony Alpha NEX-3 interchangeable lens camera from

In technical terms, the APS-C effigy sensor is approximately 13 times the size of the typical sensor. In humane terms, you’ll be taking photographs, not snapshots. The more spectacular sensor means softer backgrounds, for more beautiful portraits. You’ll see better into the dark after sunset, and all your pictures will gain from 14.2-megapixel resolution.

The NEX-5 and NEX-3 are equipped with a powerful new 14.2-megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor, exceptionally tuned to deliver uncompromising still-photo and movie effigy quality. Equal in surface area and performance to the large, APS-C effigy sensors applied in Sony’s acclaimed a system digital SLR cameras, it offers particularly rich tonal gradation and true-to-life color. Proprietary Sony processing technologies are also integrated directly into the sensor, assuring clean, low-noise signal output and ultra high-speed data transfer.

World’s Smallest and Lightest

The NEX-3 delivers the quality of a DSLR in a camera that’s ready to go wherever you go. In fact, this is the world’s smallest, lightest interchangeable lens digital camera (as of April 2010). It’s roughly half the size and weight of Sony’s smallest, lightest DSLR, the a230.

Equipped with an effigy sensor that’s 13 times the size of the typical compact camera’s sensor, a NEX cameras turn snapshots into photographs. The more prominent sensor means images with softer background that make your subject stand out and stunning low-light shots.

Expect More from a Camera
Sony has always recognized that a digital camera could take pictures in ways that film cameras never dreamed of. That’s why we’ve produced new capablenesses to take your photography further than ever. These include Sweep Panorama, Auto HDR, Handheld Twilight and Anti Motion Blur modes.

Thanks to their powerful Exmor CMOS effigy sensor and BIONZ effigy processing engine, both these cameras may offer high-speed neverending shooting at up to 7 fps (approx.) in Speed Priority Continuous mode, and at up to 2.3 fps (approx.) in Continuous Advance mode. In addition, their 10-second self-timer likewise has a 3-shot neverending shooting setting.

Hand-held Twilight Mode takes six shots at high speed when the shutter is pressed, and then aligns and merges them into a single image, significantly reducing the graininess and noise that may degrade effigy quality when shooting in exceedingly low light. Combined with the great low-noise performance of the Exmor CMOS effigy sensor, it lets you take specially clear, beautiful, nighttime photos without using a tripod or flash.

Like Hand-held Twilight mode, Anti Motion Blur mode uses exclusive Sony effigy analysis and alignment technologies to combine six shots into a single image. Ideal for low-light and telephoto shooting, it makes it easy to get clear images that capture the mood and atmosphere of the moment.

HD Movie
Capture vivid, lifelike HD movies in the PC-friendly MP4 format. The NEX-3 gives you a choice of 720/30p high definition or general definition 480/30p.

One-touch recording means there’s no need to fumble with menu settings when you want to shoot a movie–recording may be started or stopped plainly by pressing the devoted MOVIE button.

When you’re shooting movies in AF mode with an E-mount lens, the camera with no problems or difficulties adjusts focus and exposure in response to changes in the scene, and you may use the control wheel to instantaneously adjust exposure compensation on the fly. If desired, you may also preselect white remainder and Creative Style settings before movie recording begins.

Although a great deal of recent video cameras incorporate high-power zoom lenses, none may match the framing flexibleness and originative freedom of interchangeable lenses. With the NEX-5 and NEX-3, you get a choice of consecrated E-mount lenses for wide-angle, ordinary zoom, and high-power zoom shooting, optional ultra wide-angle and fisheye converters, and–via a simple mount adaptor–the full range and world-class optics of the a digital SLR lens lineup.

Sophistication Made Simple

Some cameras bristle with knobs, buttons and dials. The NEX-3 replaces them with a simple turn-and-click Control Wheel and a pair of Soft Keys. These give you easy access to the full power of digital photography. To make learning even easier, Sony includes an On-Screen Help Guide and On-Screen Tips.

iAuto mode mechanically applies exposure values and Scene Selection modes that are optimized to suit each scene. What’s more, they combine this full-auto comfortableness with a Background Defocus Control function that lets you get enjoyment from one of the greatest originative vantages of interchangeable lens photography–the capacity to defocus the background to make your main subject stand out from the scene. Just press and rotate the control wheel to set the level of background defocusing you want–it’s easy and intuitive because you may assert the level of defocusing on the LCD monitor in real-time.

In addition to basic Help Guide information, these cameras are also equipped with built-in shooting tips. The tips provide data applicable to the current shooting circumstance or mode selection, and are designed with both beginners and more progressed users in mind. Two types of tip are offered: 1) tips when it comes to queer types of subject and scene, and 2) tips on usual photographic technique. Since the entire library of shooting tips may also be accessed by way of the Camera menu and viewed as a single guidebook, it’s like having a finish photography tutorial built right into your camera.

The main menu features six without doubt or question labeled icons that may be chosen merely by rotating and pressing the control wheel. Inside, popular scrolling menus provide quick access to settings for shooting and playback functions, as well as a host of other user predilections and camera settings. The wide-screen format of the LCD monitor also contributes to heightened menu legibility, so text and icons are always easy to see and select.

The Creativity of Changing Lenses
The beauty of SLR photography is the capacity to change lenses to match your shooting situation. Now Sony brings that beauty to a compact camera. The NEX-3 gives you a choice of committed E-mount lenses, plus a choice of 28 A-mount lenses thru an adaptor, sold separately.

252 of 257 people found the following review helpful.
Finally, the perfect camera!
By Justin T
I have been waiting a lifetime for this camera and it was worth the wait! It provides excellent quality shots in the smallest possible sized body. I am a point-and-shoot user who has been disappointed with the photo quality that comes from even expensive point-and-shoot cameras but who has never bought a DSLR because I knew I would never want to lug one around. If this describes you, then this is your perfect camera. Or, if you own a DSLR and use 5% or less of the features on your camera, this is also the camera for you. On the other hand, if you’re a skilled DSLR user, skip this camera because you’ll be frustrated the compromises that make this camera a smart choice for the average consumer.

Why is this camera “perfect” if you’re a typical or even advanced point-and-shoot user?

COMPARED WITH POINT-AND-SHOOTS, you’ll immediately see the following improvements:
- Low light/indoor shots are dramatically better
- Quicker shutter response time
- Ability to do continuous shooting at 7 frames per second and other DSLR-like features
- Great HD video

COMPARED WITH DSLRs, you get:
- A much smaller camera than a DSLR that you can actually carry around on a regular basis
- As good or better HD video because of the advanced auto-focus technology in the Sony Alpha Nex which does a better job of continuous auto-focus than the average DSLR
- Photo quality that is comparable to a DSLR for the average user (again, if you’re an advanced DSLR user, skip this camera)
- An easier-to-use camera that was designed to make the most important features very accessible with the advanced features tucked away in the menus. The advanced features are there if you need them but if you’re more likely to set the camera on the auto setting, you won’t need the advanced stuff much and will appreciate how straight-forward the camera is to use.

COMPARED WITH OTHER WANNABE PERFECT CAMERAS, you’ll be glad you waited for the Sony Alpha Nex because it’s:
- Smaller in size than the other options
- Has better photo performance due to the larger APS-C sensor (12X the size of a typical point-and-shoot and also significantly larger than the competitive Micro Four Thirds sensor)
- Has better video performance
- Is similar or cheaper in price

Other wannabe “perfect cameras” I’ve considered and almost purchased have all been “Micro Four-Thirds” cameras, which owned this category of cameras before the arrival of the Sony Alpha Nex.

Panasonic Lumix GF1: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 12.1MP Micro Four-Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 14-45mm Lens

Olympus PEN E-PL1: Olympus PEN E-PL1 12.3MP Live MOS Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens (Black)

And I am glad I waited. The Sony Alpha Nex has better photo and video performance than both, a smaller form factor than both and is cheaper than the Panasonic (though slightly more expensive than the Olympus which cut its price when the Sony was announced).

As for the Nex-3 vs Nex-5, if you care about the dollars involved in the price difference, then you should get the Nex-3. Three key differences are not really worth the added cost if you’re looking to maximize value: (1) the typical user will not see a noticeable difference between the higher 1080i video resolution in the Nex-5 vs the 720p resolution in the Nex-3 (and I have a hard time believing that home movies can even benefit from the higher resolution). (2) The Nex-5 has a metal body vs plastic for the Nex-3 which is an aesthetic nice-to-have but not a need-to-have. (3) The Nex-5 is marginally smaller in two of the three dimensions (0.2 inch and 0.1 inch). Because of the overall size of the camera with its lens, shaving a little off of the height and width just won’t make a practical difference. Spend your savings on stuff that will actually impact how you use the camera like a spare battery or a larger memory card.

Other things to note:

- The flash is small and detachable, and it’s different than almost any other camera you’re considering. PRO: you don’t need it often because of the great low-light performance and you get a more compact camera as a result. CON: there’s a part you can lose or forget to bring with you if you really need it.
- If you’re looking to own multiple lenses, there aren’t many available lenses directly compatible with the camera and they’re expensive compared to competing lines. But for the advanced point-and-shoot user, you don’t need multiple lenses; just the 18-55mm or if you splurge, the 18-200mm when it comes out (expected fall 2010). But if you have the 18-200mm, the even larger lens starts to erode the benefit of the small body.
- While this is very compact compared to a DSLR, it’s not really going to fit in a pocket (though it will fit into a purse). The lens still juts out like on a DSLR so it won’t be portable like an ultra-compact point-and-shoot. But for high quality shots, there isn’t a smaller camera than this one.

66 of 70 people found the following review helpful.
Great camera with poor battery life
By Julie Le
The reviewer above did an excellent review, so mine will pale in comparison. I bought this camera the very first day it was available (June 29) and have been playing around with it since. It takes beautiful low light photos, even without a tripod, which I’m very pleased with. I have yet to use the flash that came with it.

Anyway, great camera, don’t regret my purchase… The only downside that I want to point out is the battery life. I realize the big screen and the continuous autofocus uses up a lot of power, but this camera REALLY sucks up battery power. If you went out for a day of shooting on a fully charged battery, you will need an extra. The camera seems to even suck up a lot of power when it’s not even on. There is new firmware that claims to reduce battery consumption when off, so hopefully that will be an improvement. Which leads to another downside, which is that firmware is only available for Windows and not Mac.

Other than that, beautiful beautiful camera.

*** Just a note that the battery life has improved greatly after the firmware update. Much happier with the camera now!

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful.
Excellent, for what it is
By J. Wischkaemper
Mirrorless SLR’s are the current hot thing. I’ve done wedding photography for years on the side, and when I want to be serious about taking pictures I lug a bag full of pro-level lenses and cameras around. Frankly, that gets old, especially when you’re on vacation. I’ve been hoping for quite a while to find a camera that would offer SLR-like quality in a smaller form factor that would allow it to be carried around all day with minimal effort. I owned a Panasonic LX-2 and more recently a Canon Powershot S90, and while both were decent cameras, I never really fell in love with their images.

The NEX-3 is a classic case of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. On the upside, the sensor is excellent, even by modern SLR standards. You’re not quite on the cutting edge (think Pentax K-5), but you’re pretty darn close – certainly exceeding the previous generation of SLR sensors. With a plethora of adapters for other lenses, high quality glass is also available, and can produce some rather stunning pictures. The small and light form factor allows you to carry the NEX-3 places you wouldn’t want to take a larger SLR (even a consumer-level one), and the adjustable screen gives you the ability to hold the camera in ways that just aren’t possible with a traditional camera, allowing you to be very creative.

Unfortunately, as has been stated many times before, the control layout is a bit poor, though honestly it’s completely manageable. Things are not as quick or elegant as they could (or maybe should) be, but the camera is perfectly usable. The biggest current downside is available lens selection, which is limited to three kit-lens quality lenses, which are extremely overpriced for what you get. While the lens that comes with this kit (the 18-55) is not awful, it won’t win any awards for optical quality either. The other available lenses are a 16mm prime and a 18-200, the latter of which costs close to $800 dollars – a lot of money to spend for a non-pro lens.

The real question, though, is the future of the format. Sony has announced an aggressive roadmap (7 new lenses in the next 2 years), but we know very few actual details about the lenses that will come out. Does a “high quality standard zoom” mean a 17-55 f2.8, or a 17-40 f4? How much might this lens cost? Will any third party manufacturers produce lenses for the E-mount? How committed is Sony to using this mount going forward? What is the relative level of effort between the A-mount and E-mount lens design groups? All of these are currently unknowns.

If you’re a pro for whom $550 doesn’t sound like a big deal when buying a camera, then this is a great little toy. Light, fun, good image quality in a small package.

If you’re looking at this as a long-term alternative to an SLR, remember that in the land of higher end cameras, you’re buying into a system, more than buying a single camera. That system is so uncertain at the moment that it’s impossible to say whether it will be worth additional investment in two years.

If you’re looking for a one-off camera purchase that will give you better results than the point and shoot’s out there, this is a camera you should look at.

Above all, the NEX-3 is an impressive technical achievement, and a fun little toy to play with. More than a toy, it is completely capable of producing gallery-quality prints when paired with competent glass. It certainly hasn’t replaced my camera bag, but it’s allowed me to leave it at home and still have confidence that I can capture great images.

See all 47 customer reviews…