Nikon D60 vs Sony NEX-3

The Nikon D60 and the Sony Alpha NEX-3 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in January 2008 and May 2010. The D60 is a DSLR, while the NEX-3 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Both cameras are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 10 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 14 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Nikon D60		Sony NEX-3
Digital single lens reflex		Mirrorless system camera
Nikon F mount lenses		Sony E mount lenses
10 MP – APS-C sensor		14 MP – APS-C sensor
no Video		720/30p Video
ISO 100-1,600 (100 - 3,200)		ISO 200-12,800
Optical viewfinder		Viewfinder optional
2.5" LCD – 230k dots		3.0" LCD – 920k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Tilting screen (no touchscreen)
3 shutter flaps per second		7 shutter flaps per second
500 shots per battery charge		330 shots per battery charge
126 x 94 x 64 mm, 522 g		117 x 62 x 33 mm, 297 g

Check D60 offers at
ebay.com
Check NEX-3 offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D60 and the Sony Alpha NEX-3? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Nikon D60 and the Sony NEX-3. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The NEX-3 can be obtained in three different colors (black, silver, red), while the D60 is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony NEX-3 is considerably smaller (39 percent) than the Nikon D60. Moreover, the NEX-3 is substantially lighter (43 percent) than the D60. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the D60 nor the NEX-3 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Both cameras have similarly sized sensors, but DSLRs have a larger flange-to-focal plane distance than mirrorless cameras, which imposes contraints on the optical engineering process and generally leads to bigger and heavier lenses. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Nikon Lens Catalog (D60) and the Sony E-Mount Lens Catalog (NEX-3). Mirrorless cameras, such as the NEX-3, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

Concerning battery life, the D60 gets 500 shots out of its Nikon EN-EL9 battery, while the NEX-3 can take 330 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-FW50 power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Nikon D60	126 mm	94 mm	64 mm	522 g	500	n	Jan 2008	EUR 499	ebay.com
2.		Sony NEX-3	117 mm	62 mm	33 mm	297 g	330	n	May 2010	EUR 499	ebay.com
3.		Nikon D40X	124 mm	94 mm	64 mm	522 g	520	n	Mar 2007	EUR 699	ebay.com
4.		Nikon D50	133 mm	102 mm	76 mm	620 g	400	n	Apr 2005	EUR 749	ebay.com
5.		Nikon D90	132 mm	103 mm	77 mm	703 g	850	n	Aug 2008	EUR 1 189	ebay.com
6.		Nikon D3000	126 mm	97 mm	64 mm	536 g	500	n	Jul 2009	EUR 539	ebay.com
7.		Nikon D3100	124 mm	96 mm	75 mm	505 g	550	n	Aug 2010	EUR 549	ebay.com
8.		Nikon D5000	127 mm	104 mm	80 mm	590 g	510	n	Apr 2009	EUR 699	ebay.com
9.		Olympus E-420	130 mm	91 mm	53 mm	440 g	500	n	Mar 2008	EUR 499	ebay.com
10.		Olympus E-450	130 mm	91 mm	53 mm	440 g	500	n	Mar 2009	EUR 449	ebay.com
11.		Olympus E-620	130 mm	94 mm	60 mm	521 g	500	n	Feb 2009	EUR 599	ebay.com
12.		Panasonic L10	135 mm	96 mm	78 mm	556 g	450	n	Aug 2007	EUR 599	ebay.com
13.		Sony NEX-3N	110 mm	62 mm	35 mm	269 g	480	n	Feb 2013	EUR 499	ebay.com
14.		Sony NEX-5	111 mm	59 mm	38 mm	287 g	330	n	May 2010	EUR 599	ebay.com
15.		Sony NEX-5N	111 mm	59 mm	38 mm	269 g	460	n	Aug 2011	EUR 599	ebay.com
16.		Sony NEX-C3	110 mm	60 mm	33 mm	225 g	400	n	Jun 2011	EUR 579	ebay.com
17.		Sony NEX-F3	117 mm	67 mm	42 mm	314 g	470	n	May 2012	EUR 599	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The NEX-3 was somewhat cheaper (by 5 percent) than the D60 at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the NEX-3 is 2 percent smaller. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Despite having a slightly smaller sensor, the NEX-3 offers a higher resolution of 14 megapixels, compared with 10 MP of the D60. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 5.11μm versus 6.11μm for the D60). However, it should be noted that the NEX-3 is much more recent (by 2 years and 3 months) than the D60, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

The resolution advantage of the Sony NEX-3 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the NEX-3 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 23 x 15.3 inches or 58.3 x 38.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 18.4 x 12.2 inches or 46.7 x 31 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 15.3 x 10.2 inches or 38.9 x 25.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon D60 are 19.4 x 13 inches or 49.2 x 32.9 cm for good quality, 15.5 x 10.4 inches or 39.3 x 26.3 cm for very good quality, and 12.9 x 8.6 inches or 32.8 x 21.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Nikon D60 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600, which can be extended to ISO 100-3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha NEX-3 are ISO 200 to ISO 12800 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the D60 is build around a CCD sensor, while the NEX-3 uses a CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Nikon D60	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.5	11.4	562	65
2.		Sony NEX-3	APS-C	14.0	4592	3056	720/30p	22.1	12.0	830	68
3.		Nikon D40X	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.4	11.4	516	63
4.		Nikon D50	APS-C	6.0	3008	2000	none	20.9	10.8	560	55
5.		Nikon D90	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	720/24p	22.7	12.5	977	73
6.		Nikon D3000	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.3	11.1	563	62
7.		Nikon D3100	APS-C	14.2	4608	3072	1080/24p	22.5	11.3	919	67
8.		Nikon D5000	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	720/24p	22.7	12.5	868	72
9.		Olympus E-420	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.5	10.4	527	56
10.		Olympus E-450	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.5	10.5	512	56
11.		Olympus E-620	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	none	21.3	10.3	536	55
12.		Panasonic L10	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.3	10.8	429	55
13.		Sony NEX-3N	APS-C	16.0	4912	3264	1080/60i	22.8	12.5	1067	74
14.		Sony NEX-5	APS-C	14.0	4592	3056	1080/60i	22.2	12.2	796	69
15.		Sony NEX-5N	APS-C	16.0	4912	3264	1080/60i	23.6	12.7	1079	77
16.		Sony NEX-C3	APS-C	16.0	4912	3264	720/30p	22.7	12.2	1083	73
17.		Sony NEX-F3	APS-C	16.0	4912	3264	1080/60i	22.7	12.3	1114	73

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The NEX-3 indeed provides for movie recording, while the D60 does not. The highest resolution format that the NEX-3 can use is 720/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the D60 has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the NEX-3 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the NEX-3 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the FDA-SV1. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Nikon D60, the Sony NEX-3, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Nikon D60	optical	n	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
2.		Sony NEX-3	optional	n	3.0 / 920	tilting	n	1/4000s	7.0/s	n	n
3.		Nikon D40X	optical	n	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
4.		Nikon D50	optical	n	2.0 / 130	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.5/s	Y	n
5.		Nikon D90	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.5/s	Y	n
6.		Nikon D3000	optical	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
7.		Nikon D3100	optical	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
8.		Nikon D5000	optical	n	2.7 / 230	full-flex	n	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	n
9.		Olympus E-420	optical	n	2.7 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	Y	n
10.		Olympus E-450	optical	n	2.7 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	Y	n
11.		Olympus E-620	optical	n	2.7 / 230	swivel	n	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	Y
12.		Panasonic L10	optical	n	2.5 / 207	swivel	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
13.		Sony NEX-3N	optional	n	3.0 / 460	tilting	n	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	n
14.		Sony NEX-5	optional	n	3.0 / 920	tilting	n	1/4000s	7.0/s	n	n
15.		Sony NEX-5N	optional	n	3.0 / 920	tilting	Y	1/4000s	10.0/s	n	n
16.		Sony NEX-C3	optional	n	3.0 / 920	tilting	n	1/4000s	5.5/s	n	n
17.		Sony NEX-F3	optional	n	3.0 / 920	tilting	n	1/4000s	5.5/s	Y	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The D60 has one, while the NEX-3 does not. While the built-in flash of the D60 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The D60 writes its imaging data to SDHC cards, while the NEX-3 uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D60 and Sony Alpha NEX-3 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Nikon D60	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Sony NEX-3	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Nikon D40X	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Nikon D50	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Nikon D90	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Nikon D3000	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Nikon D3100	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Nikon D5000	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Olympus E-420	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Olympus E-450	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Olympus E-620	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Panasonic L10	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Sony NEX-3N	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Sony NEX-5	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Sony NEX-5N	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Sony NEX-C3	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Sony NEX-F3	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-

Both the D60 and the NEX-3 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The D60 was replaced by the Nikon D5000, while the NEX-3 was followed by the Sony NEX-3N. Further information on the features and operation of the D60 and NEX-3 can be found, respectively, in the Nikon D60 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony NEX-3 Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Nikon D60 and the Sony NEX-3? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Nikon D60:

• Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (500 versus 330) on a single battery charge.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in January 2008).

Reasons to prefer the Sony Alpha NEX-3:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (14 vs 10MP), which boosts linear resolution by 18%.
• More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (0.6 EV of extra DR).
• Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (0.6 stops ISO advantage).
• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 720/30p video.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (920k vs 230k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (7 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More compact: Is smaller (117x62mm vs 126x94mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 225g or 43 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
• More modern: Reflects 2 years and 3 months of technical progress since the D60 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the NEX-3 is the clear winner of the contest (13 : 4 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D60 and the Sony NEX-3 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the D60 and the NEX-3 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Nikon D60	..	80/100	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2008	EUR 499	ebay.com
2.		Sony NEX-3	..	..	..	70/100	4.5/5	4/5	May 2010	EUR 499	ebay.com
3.		Nikon D40X	..	79/100	..	+ +	4/5	4/5	Mar 2007	EUR 699	ebay.com
4.		Nikon D50	..	78/100	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Apr 2005	EUR 749	ebay.com
5.		Nikon D90	..	+ +	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2008	EUR 1 189	ebay.com
6.		Nikon D3000	..	+	..	72/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jul 2009	EUR 539	ebay.com
7.		Nikon D3100	5/5	+ +	..	72/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2010	EUR 549	ebay.com
8.		Nikon D5000	..	+ +	..	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	Apr 2009	EUR 699	ebay.com
9.		Olympus E-420	..	85/100	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Mar 2008	EUR 499	ebay.com
10.		Olympus E-450	..	..	..	..	4/5	4/5	Mar 2009	EUR 449	ebay.com
11.		Olympus E-620	3/5	88/100	..	72/100	4.5/5	5/5	Feb 2009	EUR 599	ebay.com
12.		Panasonic L10	..	85/100	..	+	3.5/5	4/5	Aug 2007	EUR 599	ebay.com
13.		Sony NEX-3N	3/5	..	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2013	EUR 499	ebay.com
14.		Sony NEX-5	3/5	+ +	..	71/100	4.5/5	4/5	May 2010	EUR 599	ebay.com
15.		Sony NEX-5N	3/5	+ +	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2011	EUR 599	ebay.com
16.		Sony NEX-C3	3/5	+ +	..	74/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2011	EUR 579	ebay.com
17.		Sony NEX-F3	4/5	..	..	74/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	May 2012	EUR 599	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Check D60 offers at
ebay.com
Check NEX-3 offers at
ebay.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

~

Check D60 offers at
ebay.com
Check NEX-3 offers at
ebay.com

Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.