Sony A37 vs Nikon J3 Specifications

APS-C 369.7mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 16,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A37 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the A37.

1 inch 116.2mm²
14.2 megapixels
ISO 160 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Nikon J3 Review.

Detailed specifications
Sony Alpha SLT-A37
Nikon J3

Links
Prices:		Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL:	Manufacturer website	Manufacturer website
Predecessor:
Successor:
General
Model Number:	A37	J3
Alternate Model Number(s):
Camera Format:	SLR	Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured:	No	No
Retail Price:	$599.99	$599.95
Street Price:		$617.00
Date Available:	2012-06-15	2013-02-15
Tripod Mount:	Yes	Yes
Weight:	25.6 oz (726 g) includes batteries, kit lens	12.7 oz (359 g) includes batteries, kit lens
Size:	4.9 x 3.6 x 3.3 in. (124 x 92 x 85 mm)	4.0 x 2.4 x 1.1 in. (101 x 61 x 29 mm)
Waterproof:	No	No
Waterproof Depth:	n/a	n/a

Image Sensor
Sensor Type:	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:	Sony	Aptina
Effective Megapixels:	16.1	14.2
Sensor Format:	APS-C	1 inch
Sensor size:	369.72mm² (23.7mm x 15.6mm)	116.16mm² (13.20mm x 8.80mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch:	4.82 microns	2.86 microns
Focal Length Multiplier:	1.5x	2.7x
Aspect Ratio:	3:2	3:2
Color Filter Type:	RGBG	RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter:	Fixed	Fixed
Self-Cleaning:	Yes	No
Sensor shift image stabilization:	Yes	No
On-Sensor Phase Detect:	No	Yes
DxO Sensor Score:	75	52
DxO Color Depth Score (bits):	23.3	20.4
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs):	12.9	11.0
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso):	799	420
Image Capture
Image Resolution:	4912 x 3264 (16.0 MP, 3:2), 4912 x 2760 (13.6 MP, 16:9), 3568 x 2368 (8.4 MP, Other), 3568 x 2000 (7.1 MP, 16:9), 2448 x 1624 (4.0 MP, Other), 2448 x 1376 (3.4 MP, 16:9), 12416 x 1856 (23.0 MP, Other), 5536 x 2160 (12.0 MP, Other), 8192 x 1856 (15.2 MP, Other), 3872 x 2160 (8.4 MP, Other), 7152 x 1080 (7.7 MP, Other), 4912 x 1080 (5.3 MP, Other), 1920 x 1080 (2.1 MP, 16:9)	4608 x 3072 (14.2 MP, 3:2), 3456 x 2304 (8.0 MP, 3:2), 2304 x 1536 (3.5 MP, 3:2)
Image File Format:	JPEG, MPO, RAW (12-bit ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG	JPEG (Exif 2.3), 12-bit NEF RAW, RAW+JPG
Continuous-mode frames/second:	5.5	60.0
Video Capture
Can take movies:	Yes	Yes
Movie Resolution:	1920x1080 (60i(FH)/24p(FX)/24p(FH)) 1440x1080 (30p) 640x480 (30p)	1920x1080 (60i/30p) 1280x720 (60p/30p) 640x240 (400p) 320x120 (1200p)
Movie File Format:	AVCHD 1.0/MP4 (Audio: Dolby Digital (AC-3)/MPEG-4 AAC-LC)	MOV H.264/MPEG-4 AVC with AAC sound
Composite Video Out:	No	No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video:	n/a	n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder:	n/a	n/a
HD Video Out:	Yes	Yes
HD Video Connection:	HDMI	HDMI

Lens & Optics
Lens Mount:	Sony Alpha (Minolta A)	Nikon 1
Lens:	Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT SAM	1 Nikkor 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 VR
Focal Length (35mm equivalent):	27 - 83mm	27 - 81mm
Focal Length (actual):	18 - 55mm	10 - 30mm
Zoom Ratio:	3.06x	3.00x
Aperture Range:	f/3.5 - 22 (W), f/5.6 - 36 (T)	f/3.5 (W) / f/5.6 (T) - f/16
Integrated ND Filter:	No	No
Normal Focus Range:	25 cm to Infinity 9.8 in to Infinity	20 cm to Infinity 7.9 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:
Filter Thread:	55.0mm	40.5mm
Thread Type:	n/a	n/a
Optical Image Stabilization:	No	Yes
Digital Zoom:	Yes	No
Digital Zoom Values:	Up to 2x Precision, Up to 2x Clear Image Zoom, 1.4x (8.4MP) or 2.0x (4MP) Smart Zoom	n/a
Auto Focus
Auto Focus:	Yes	Yes
Auto Focus Type:	Phase Detection: 15 points (3 points cross type); Wide (auto, 15 points), Zone, Spot, Local; Enhanced Object Tracking	Hybrid autofocus (phase detection/contrast-detect AF); Single-point (135 focus areas, center 73 support phase-detect), auto-area (41 focus areas), subject tracking
Auto Focus Assist Light?	Yes	Yes
Manual Focus:	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder:	EVF / LCD	LCD
Viewfinder Type:	EVF type; 1.1cm (0.43") 1.15M-dot LCD (380K-dot time-multiplexed RGB), 100% coverage, 1.1x magnification, 19mm eyepoint, -4 to +4 diopter
Focus Peaking:	Yes	No
EVF Resolution:		n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):	0.73x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):	1.10x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder:	Yes	No
Rear Display:	Yes	Yes
Rear Display Size (inches):	2.6	3.0
Rear Display Resolution:	230,400 dots (76,800 px)	921,000 dots
Touchscreen:	No	No
Articulating Screen:	Yes	No
Tilt Swivel Screen:		No
Selfie Screen:		No
Max Playback Zoom:	11.8x
Top Deck Display:	No	No

Exposure
Maximum ISO (native):	16000	6400
Minimum ISO (native):	100	160
ISO Settings:	Auto (100-3200), 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 16000; (Multi-frame NR mode up to ISO 25600)	Auto ISO, 160 - 6400
Auto ISO Mode:	Yes	Yes
White Balance Settings:	Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent (Warm, Cool, Day, Daylight), Flash, Custom, Color Temp/Filter (2500-9900K with 15-step Magenta/Green compensation)	Auto, incandescent, fluorescent, direct sunlight, flash, cloudy, shade, underwater, preset manual, all except preset manual with fine tuning
Shutter Speed Range:	1/4000 - 30 sec	1/16000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode:	Yes	Yes
Exposure Compensation:	+/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps	+/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes:	1200-zone Evaluative, Center-weighted, Spot	Matrix, Center-weighted (4.5mm), Spot (2mm)
Program Auto Exposure:	Yes	Yes
Aperture Priority:	Yes	Yes
Shutter Priority:	Yes	Yes
Full Manual Exposure:	Yes	Yes
Creative Exposure Modes:	Sweep Panorama, 3D Sweep Panorama, Portrait, SportsAction, Macro, Landscape, Sunset, Night view, Hand-held Twilight (6 shot layering), Night Portrait, Picture Effect (Posterization (color/B/W), Pop Color, Retro Photo, Partial color (R/G/B/Y), High Contrast Monochrome, Toy Camera (Normal/Cool), Soft High-key, Soft Focus (Hi/Mid/Lo), HDR Painting (Hi/Mid/Lo), Miniature (7 Settings))	New Creative Mode includes Easy Panorama, Selective Color, Miniature, Soft, Night Landscape, Backlighting and Night Portrait.
Self Timer:	2 or 10 seconds	2, 5, 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):
High Resolution Composite:	No	No
Flash
Built-in Flash:	Yes	Yes
Flash Modes:	Auto, Off, Fill-flash, Rear sync, Wireless, High-Speed sync, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction: On/Off	Fill flash, slow sync, red-eye reduction, slow sync with red-eye reduction, rear-curtain sync, rear curtain with slow sync
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100):	10.0 m / 32.8 ft.	5.0 m / 16.4 ft.
Flash Range Description:	Lens dependent	Lens dependent.
Max Flash Sync:	1/160	1/60
Flash Exposure Compensation:	+/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps	-3 to +1 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection:	Hot shoe	n/a
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types:	MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC / SDXC	SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:
Other Memory:
Dual Card Slots:	No	No
RAW Capture Support:	Yes	Yes
Uncompressed Format:	RAW (12-bit ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG	12-bit NEF RAW, RAW+JPG
Movie File Format:	AVCHD 1.0/MP4 (Audio: Dolby Digital (AC-3)/MPEG-4 AAC-LC)	MOV H.264/MPEG-4 AVC with AAC sound
Included Memory:		0.0 MB
Included Memory Type:
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi:	No	No
NFC:	No	No
Bluetooth:	No	No
Built-In GPS:	No	No
Microphone Jack:	Yes	No
Headphone Jack:	No	No
External Connections:	USB 2.0 High Speed	USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant:	Yes	Yes
DPOF Compliant:	Yes	Yes
Remote Control:	Yes
Remote Control Type:	Optional Wired (RM-S1AM/RM-L1AM)
Connections (extended):	Type-C Mini HDMI (BRAVIA Sync, PhotoTV HD); Wired Remote Terminal, 3.5mm External Stereo Micophone Jack, DC Input	HDMI out (Type C, Mini)

Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution):	0.47
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):	0.45
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames):	2
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):
Camera penalizes early shutter press?	No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution):	5.5	60.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution):	10
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid):	0.11 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):
Shutter Lag (manual focus):	0.080 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):	0.32 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused):	0.057 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes):	Full AF lag, Wide-area mode = 0.124s
Startup Time:	0.9 seconds
Play -> Record Time:	0.9 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power:	2.5 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):	450 shots
Battery Life, Video:
Battery Form Factor:	Proprietary	Proprietary EN-EL20
Usable Battery Types:	NP-FW50 Lithium-ion rechargeable	Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included:	1 x Proprietary NP-FW50 Lithium-ion rechargeable	1 x Proprietary EN-EL20 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter):	Yes	Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included:
Internal Charging Supported:
Software
Included Software:	Sony Software CD-ROM	ViewNX 2 / Short Movie Creator CD-ROM
OS Compatibility:	Windows XP SP3/Vista SP2/7, Mac OS X (v.10.3 +)
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features:	SteadyShot INSIDE Sensor-shift Image Stabilization (up to 4 EV correction), Full HD 1080i60 Video, Up to 7 fps Burst Mode (Tele-zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE), Enhanced Object Tracking AF, 2x Clear Image Digital Zoom, Auto Portrait Framing.	Available in White, Black, Silver, Burgundy and Beige.