About
Sony makes a grand entrance into the relatively nascent compact interchangeable lens camera space, which has been primarily dominated by Micro Four Thirds models from Olympus and Panasonic, with its Alpha NEX series. Priced at just $549.99 (with a 16mm f/2.8 kit lens), the 14.2-megapixel Sony Alpha NEX-3 is unlike any other camera currently
available, leaving the Editors' Choice Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 ($899.95, ) and Olympus E-P2 ($1,099.99, ) in the dust in terms of price and performance. The NEX-3 can compete with DSLRs that fetch twice its price, offering superb image quality, speed, and a robust feature set in the smallest body we've seen in this class of camera. (The NEX series comprises the NEX-3 along with the NEX-5, which adds more HD video-capture options and a magnesium alloy body, for an additional $100.)
Design and Features
Unlike the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic GF1, which feature Micro Four Thirds image sensors, the NEX-3 uses a larger APS-C sensor—the same one used in Sony's smallest and lightest DSLR, the Alpha A230 ($549.99, ). Unlike its 1.2-pound cousin, however, the 11-ounce NEX-3 measures just 2.4 by 4.4 by 2.4 inches (HWD with kit lens), making it a bit too large to tuck into your jeans pocket, but small enough to comfortably stow in a coat pocket or purse. It's noticeably smaller the Panasonic GF1. Limited dedicated controls—a shutter release with zoom toggle, Power, and Playback buttons, in addition to a scroll wheel and three variable buttons—also contribute to the camera's compact design.