Nikon Coolpix 3200 vs. Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Comparison
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| Nikon Coolpix 3200 | Sony Alpha NEX-3N | ||||
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Megapixels
3.10
16.10
Max. image resolution
2048 x 1536
4912 x 3264
Sensor
Sensor type
CCD
CMOS
Sensor size
1/2.7" (~ 5.33 x 4 mm)
23.5 x 15.6 mm
Sensor size comparison
Sensor size is generally a good indicator of the quality of the camera.
Sensors can vary greatly in size. As a general rule, the bigger the
sensor, the better the image quality.
Bigger sensors are more effective because they have more surface area to capture light. An important factor when comparing digital cameras is also camera generation. Generally, newer sensors will outperform the older.
Learn more about sensor sizes »
Bigger sensors are more effective because they have more surface area to capture light. An important factor when comparing digital cameras is also camera generation. Generally, newer sensors will outperform the older.
Learn more about sensor sizes »
Actual sensor size
Note: Actual size is set to screen → change »
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| 1 | : | 17.2 |
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| Nikon Coolpix 3200 | Sony Alpha NEX-3N | |
Surface area:
| 21.32 mm² | vs | 366.60 mm² |
Difference: 345.28 mm² (1620%)
Alpha NEX-3N sensor is approx. 17.2x bigger than 3200 sensor.
Note: You are comparing sensors of very different generations.
There is a gap of 9 years between Nikon 3200 (2004) and Sony Alpha NEX-3N (2013).
Nine years is a lot of time in terms
of technology, meaning newer sensors are overall much more
efficient than the older ones.
Pixel pitch tells you the distance from the center of one pixel (photosite) to the center of the next. It tells you how close the pixels are to each other.
The bigger the pixel pitch, the further apart they are and the bigger each pixel is. Bigger pixels tend to have better signal to noise ratio and greater dynamic range.
The bigger the pixel pitch, the further apart they are and the bigger each pixel is. Bigger pixels tend to have better signal to noise ratio and greater dynamic range.
Pixel or photosite area affects how much light per pixel can be gathered.
The larger it is the more light can be collected by a single pixel.
Larger pixels have the potential to collect more photons, resulting in greater dynamic range, while smaller pixels provide higher resolutions (more detail) for a given sensor size.
Larger pixels have the potential to collect more photons, resulting in greater dynamic range, while smaller pixels provide higher resolutions (more detail) for a given sensor size.
Relative pixel sizes:
vs
Pixel area difference: 15.89 µm² (232%)
A pixel on Sony Alpha NEX-3N sensor is approx. 232% bigger than a pixel on Nikon 3200.
Pixel density tells you how many million pixels fit or would fit in one
square cm of the sensor.
Higher pixel density means smaller pixels and lower pixel density means larger pixels.
Higher pixel density means smaller pixels and lower pixel density means larger pixels.
To learn about the accuracy of these numbers,
click here.
Specs
Nikon 3200
Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Total megapixels
3.30
16.50
Effective megapixels
3.10
16.10
Optical zoom
3x
Digital zoom
Yes
No
ISO sensitivity
Auto, (50-200)
Auto, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 16000
RAW
Manual focus
Normal focus range
30 cm
Macro focus range
4 cm
Focal length (35mm equiv.)
38 - 115 mm
Aperture priority
No
Yes
Max. aperture
f2.8 - f4.9
Metering
256-segment Matrix
Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
Exposure compensation
±2 EV (in 1/2 EV steps)
±3 EV (in 1/3 EV steps)
Shutter priority
No
Yes
Min. shutter speed
4 sec
30 sec
Max. shutter speed
1/3000 sec
1/4000 sec
Built-in flash
External flash
Viewfinder
Optical (tunnel)
Electronic (optional)
White balance presets
6
6
Screen size
1.6"
3"
Screen resolution
80,000 dots
460,800 dots
Video capture
Max. video resolution
Storage types
Secure Digital
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo/XC-HG Duo
USB
USB 1.0
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI
Wireless
GPS
Battery
AA (2) batteries (NiMH recommended)
Lithium-Ion NP-FW50 rechargeable battery
Weight
140 g
269 g
Dimensions
88 x 65 x 38 mm
109.9 x 62 x 34.6 mm
Year
2004
2013
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Diagonal
Diagonal is calculated by the use of Pythagorean theorem:
where w = sensor width and h = sensor height
| Diagonal = √ | w² + h² |
Nikon 3200 diagonal
The diagonal of 3200 sensor is not 1/2.7 or 0.37" (9.4 mm) as you might expect, but approximately two thirds of
that value - 6.66 mm. If you want to know why, see
sensor sizes.
w = 5.33 mm
h = 4.00 mm
w = 5.33 mm
h = 4.00 mm
| Diagonal = √ | 5.33² + 4.00² | = 6.66 mm |
Sony Alpha NEX-3N diagonal
w = 23.50 mm
h = 15.60 mm
h = 15.60 mm
| Diagonal = √ | 23.50² + 15.60² | = 28.21 mm |
Surface area
Surface area is calculated by multiplying the width and the height of a sensor.
3200 sensor area
Width = 5.33 mm
Height = 4.00 mm
Surface area = 5.33 × 4.00 = 21.32 mm²
Height = 4.00 mm
Surface area = 5.33 × 4.00 = 21.32 mm²
Alpha NEX-3N sensor area
Width = 23.50 mm
Height = 15.60 mm
Surface area = 23.50 × 15.60 = 366.60 mm²
Height = 15.60 mm
Surface area = 23.50 × 15.60 = 366.60 mm²
Pixel pitch
Pixel pitch is the distance from the center of one pixel to the center of the
next measured in micrometers (µm). It can be calculated with the following formula:
| Pixel pitch = | sensor width in mm | × 1000 |
| sensor resolution width in pixels |
3200 pixel pitch
Sensor width = 5.33 mm
Sensor resolution width = 2031 pixels
Sensor resolution width = 2031 pixels
| Pixel pitch = | 5.33 | × 1000 | = 2.62 µm |
| 2031 |
Alpha NEX-3N pixel pitch
Sensor width = 23.50 mm
Sensor resolution width = 4930 pixels
Sensor resolution width = 4930 pixels
| Pixel pitch = | 23.50 | × 1000 | = 4.77 µm |
| 4930 |
Pixel area
The area of one pixel can be calculated by simply squaring the pixel pitch:
You could also divide sensor surface area with effective megapixels:
Pixel area = pixel pitch²
You could also divide sensor surface area with effective megapixels:
| Pixel area = | sensor surface area in mm² |
| effective megapixels |
3200 pixel area
Pixel pitch = 2.62 µm
Pixel area = 2.62² = 6.86 µm²
Pixel area = 2.62² = 6.86 µm²
Alpha NEX-3N pixel area
Pixel pitch = 4.77 µm
Pixel area = 4.77² = 22.75 µm²
Pixel area = 4.77² = 22.75 µm²
Pixel density
Pixel density can be calculated with the following formula:
One could also use this formula:
| Pixel density = ( | sensor resolution width in pixels | )² / 1000000 |
| sensor width in cm |
One could also use this formula:
| Pixel density = | effective megapixels × 1000000 | / 10000 |
| sensor surface area in mm² |
3200 pixel density
Sensor resolution width = 2031 pixels
Sensor width = 0.533 cm
Pixel density = (2031 / 0.533)² / 1000000 = 14.52 MP/cm²
Sensor width = 0.533 cm
Pixel density = (2031 / 0.533)² / 1000000 = 14.52 MP/cm²
Alpha NEX-3N pixel density
Sensor resolution width = 4930 pixels
Sensor width = 2.35 cm
Pixel density = (4930 / 2.35)² / 1000000 = 4.4 MP/cm²
Sensor width = 2.35 cm
Pixel density = (4930 / 2.35)² / 1000000 = 4.4 MP/cm²
Sensor resolution
Sensor resolution is calculated from sensor size and effective megapixels. It's slightly higher
than maximum (not interpolated) image resolution which is usually stated on camera specifications.
Sensor resolution is used in pixel pitch, pixel area, and pixel density formula.
For sake of simplicity, we're going to calculate it in 3 stages.
1. First we need to find the ratio between horizontal and vertical length by dividing the former with the latter (aspect ratio). It's usually 1.33 (4:3) or 1.5 (3:2), but not always.
2. With the ratio (r) known we can calculate the X from the formula below, where X is a vertical number of pixels:
3. To get sensor resolution we then multiply X with the corresponding ratio:
Resolution horizontal: X × r
Resolution vertical: X
1. First we need to find the ratio between horizontal and vertical length by dividing the former with the latter (aspect ratio). It's usually 1.33 (4:3) or 1.5 (3:2), but not always.
2. With the ratio (r) known we can calculate the X from the formula below, where X is a vertical number of pixels:
| (X × r) × X = effective megapixels × 1000000 → |
|
Resolution horizontal: X × r
Resolution vertical: X
3200 sensor resolution
Sensor width = 5.33 mm
Sensor height = 4.00 mm
Effective megapixels = 3.10
Resolution horizontal: X × r = 1527 × 1.33 = 2031
Resolution vertical: X = 1527
Sensor resolution = 2031 x 1527
Sensor height = 4.00 mm
Effective megapixels = 3.10
| r = 5.33/4.00 = 1.33 |
|
Resolution vertical: X = 1527
Sensor resolution = 2031 x 1527
Alpha NEX-3N sensor resolution
Sensor width = 23.50 mm
Sensor height = 15.60 mm
Effective megapixels = 16.10
Resolution horizontal: X × r = 3265 × 1.51 = 4930
Resolution vertical: X = 3265
Sensor resolution = 4930 x 3265
Sensor height = 15.60 mm
Effective megapixels = 16.10
| r = 23.50/15.60 = 1.51 |
|
Resolution vertical: X = 3265
Sensor resolution = 4930 x 3265
Crop factor
Crop factor or focal length multiplier is calculated by dividing the diagonal
of 35 mm film (43.27 mm) with the diagonal of the sensor.
| Crop factor = | 43.27 mm |
| sensor diagonal in mm |
3200 crop factor
Sensor diagonal in mm = 6.66 mm
| Crop factor = | 43.27 | = 6.5 |
| 6.66 |
Alpha NEX-3N crop factor
Sensor diagonal in mm = 28.21 mm
| Crop factor = | 43.27 | = 1.53 |
| 28.21 |
35 mm equivalent aperture
Equivalent aperture (in 135 film terms) is calculated by multiplying lens aperture
with crop factor (a.k.a. focal length multiplier).
3200 equivalent aperture
Crop factor = 6.5
Aperture = f2.8 - f4.9
35-mm equivalent aperture = (f2.8 - f4.9) × 6.5 = f18.2 - f31.9
Aperture = f2.8 - f4.9
35-mm equivalent aperture = (f2.8 - f4.9) × 6.5 = f18.2 - f31.9
Alpha NEX-3N equivalent aperture
Aperture is a lens characteristic, so it's calculated only for
fixed lens cameras. If you want to know the equivalent aperture for
Sony Alpha NEX-3N, take the aperture of the lens
you're using and multiply it with crop factor.
Crop factor for Sony Alpha NEX-3N is 1.53
Crop factor for Sony Alpha NEX-3N is 1.53
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