Sony NEX-3 PDF User Manual
Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Sony Alpha NEX-3? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Sony makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the NEX-3 offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.
That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.
In any case, the NEX-3 is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This mirrorless interchangeable lens camera was officially introduced on May 11th, 2010, which means that, as of today, the camera is 5250 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued and was succeeded by the Sony NEX-3N as a replacement in the same line of cameras.
Sony's instruction manual for the NEX-3
The camera's instruction manual is 159 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the NEX-3 is included towards the bottom of this webpage.
Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!
Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Sony Alpha NEX-3 manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.
If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Sony's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.
Printed, hardcopy versions of the Sony NEX-3 manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.
Sony NEX-3 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the NEX-3.
What type of imaging sensor is used in the Sony NEX-3?
The camera features a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used in the Sony NEX-3 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Sony equipped the NEX-3 with the BIONZ image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Sony NEX-3?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 12800.
Can the Sony NEX-3 be equipped with an optional viewfinder?
Yes, Sony provides the FDA-SV1 as an accessory (here on amazon) that can be mounted on the hotshoe.
Does the Sony NEX-3 have a selfie-friendly screen?
Yes, the LCD-screen of the NEX-3 is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Sony Alpha NEX-3?
Sony does not publish a shutter rating for the NEX-3. Yet, shutters in comparable cameras from other manufacturers are said to be good for at least 100 000 actuations. It should be noted, though, that this number represents a Mean Time before Failure. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust an expected shutter life of 100 000 shots over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Sony NEX-3?
Sony embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your NEX-3 has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.
Does the Sony NEX-3 feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Sony NEX-3 for flash photography?
The NEX-3's flash sync speed is 1/160 sec.
Which battery does the Sony NEX-3 use?
The camera gets its power from the Sony NP-FW50 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Further reading
How does the NEX-3 stack up against available alternatives? If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just make your choice using the following search menu. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.
- Canon 1Ds Mark III vs Sony A9 II
- Canon G1 X Mark III vs Sony A9 II
- Fujifilm GFX 50S vs Sony A9 II
- Leica S Typ 007 vs Sony NEX-3
- Nikon D4 vs Sony A9 II
- Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A9 II
- Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A9 II
- Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony NEX-3
- Panasonic G3 vs Sony NEX-3
- Panasonic GX800 vs Sony NEX-3
- Ricoh WG-60 vs Sony NEX-3
- Sony HX90V vs Sony NEX-3
Core camera specifications
Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Sony Alpha NEX-3.
| Camera Model | Sony NEX-3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | |
| Camera Lens | Sony E mount lenses | |
| Launch Date | May 2010 | |
| Launch Price | USD 599 | |
| Sensor Specs | ||
| Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
| Sensor Format | APS-C Sensor | |
| Sensor Size | 23.4 x 15.6 mm | |
| Sensor Area | 365 mm2 | |
| Sensor Diagonal | 28.1 mm | |
| Crop Factor | 1.5x | |
| Sensor Resolution | 14 Megapixels | |
| Image Resolution | 4 592 x 3 056 pixels | |
| Pixel Pitch | 5.11 μm | |
| Pixel Density | 3.84 MP/cm2 | |
| Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
| Movie Capability | 720/30p Video | |
| ISO Setting | 200 - 12 800 ISO | |
| Image Processor | BIONZ | |
| DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 68 | |
| DXO Color Depth (bits) | 22.1 | |
| DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 12.0 | |
| DXO Low Light (ISO) | 830 | |
| Screen Specs | ||
| Viewfinder Type | Viewfinder optional | |
| Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | |
| LCD Framing | Live View | |
| LCD Size | 3.0 inch | |
| LCD Resolution | 920k dots | |
| LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | |
| V-logging Friendliness | Front-flip possible | |
| Touch Input | No touchscreen | |
| Shooting Specs | ||
| Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | |
| Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | |
| Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000s | |
| Continuous Shooting | 7 shutter flaps/s | |
| Shutter Life Expectancy | 100 000 actuations | |
| Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
| Time Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | |
| Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | |
| Storage Medium | MS or SDXC cards | |
| Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | |
| UHS card support | no | |
| Connectivity Specs | ||
| External Flash | Hotshoe | |
| USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
| HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
| Wifi Support | no Wifi | |
| Body Specs | ||
| Battery Type | Sony NP-FW50 power pack | |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 330 shots per charge | |
| Body Dimensions |
117 x 62 x 33 mm (4.6 x 2.4 x 1.3 in) |
|
| Camera Weight | 297 g (10.5 oz) | |
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