Pentax
K-x
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-3

Updated (June, 2011): Compare the Pentax K-x vs Sony NEX C3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

47
"Most impressive is that it focuses fast enough to track a subject running full speed at the camera"
imaging-resource.com | talking about the NEX-3's video-quality
"The Sony NEX-3 and NEX-5 are unique cameras that will be remembered for their design as well as their excellent image quality/"
imaging-resource.com | talking about the NEX-3's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-3

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Size
 Really small
Compact 117x62x33 mm
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Pentax K-x

45
Runner-up

Pentax K-x
"Image stabilisation via the camera body is a great feature that works very well when hand-holding the camera in low-light conditions."
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's image-stabilization
"The camera has a deep, contoured handgrip on the right-hand side, coated in a rubberized compound to aid grip, that enabled me to use three fingers to hold it and my right forefinger to operate the shutter button."
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's feel

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-x

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
9

differences

Advantages of the Pentax K-x
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 90 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 Around 11.5x more lenses available
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 0
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 72.0 vs 68.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 97 ms vs 441 ms
Help
 4.5x less delay when taking photos
Battery life Longer battery life 420 shots vs 330 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 600 ms vs 1000 ms
Help
 40% less delay when turning on
Color depth Better color depth 22.8 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.7 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 12 EV
Help
 0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/6000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 More than 30% faster max shutter speed
Pentax K-x Learn more about
the Pentax K-x

Advantages of the Sony NEX-3
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Size Significantly smaller 117x62x33 mm vs 123x92x68 mm
Help
 3.2x smaller
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The NEX-3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Weight Significantly lighter 297 g vs 580 g
Help
 Around 50% lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.3" vs 2.7"
Help
 2.1x thinner
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 4.7 fps
Help
 Around 50% faster continuous shooting
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Pentax K-x Pentax K-x
45 vs 47
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-3. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
K-x:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
NEX-3:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
HDR Both have in-camera, most cameras like these don't Help
Combines multiple exposures
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
K-x:12.5 EV
NEX-3:12 EV
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Color depth Good color depth Help
K-x:22.8 bits
NEX-3:22.1 bits
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
K-x:1/6000s
NEX-3:1/4000s
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds
Movie format HD (720p) video Help
K-x:720p @ 24fps
NEX-3:720p @ 30fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3100 vs the K-x
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the K-x
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the K-x
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha NEX-3
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the K-x
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the K-x
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Alpha NEX-3
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$475 - $629 body only

$549 - $580 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the K-x
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the Alpha NEX-3

Pentax K-x Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

Entry-level DSLR

$631 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Size Slightly larger
Compare the K-r vs the K-x
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$888 - $1,129 body only

$1,033 - $1,283 with 18-55mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Size Larger
Compare the K-5 vs the K-x
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Image stabilization No image stabilization
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the D90 vs the K-x

Sony Alpha NEX-3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Dynamic range More dynamic range
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens
Overall image quality Better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the NEX C3 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-3
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Alpha NEX-3

appearance

Pentax K-x Sony Alpha NEX-3
Pentax K-x Sony Alpha NEX-3
Pentax K-x Sony Alpha NEX-3

discussion

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