Sony’s New α NEX-F3 Camera Packs DSLR-Size Sensor and Advanced Feature Set into Small, Stylish Body

Lightweight Model Features 16.1 Megapixel APS-C Sensor, 180° Tiltable LCD, Built-in Flash, Auto Portrait Framing and more

Sony’s α NEX-F3 digital camera delivers professional quality photos with a compact, pocket-sized body, allowing consumers to explore the creative world of high-quality, interchangeable lens photography in a refreshingly fun and entertaining way.

The new NEX-F3 camera features the same space-saving mirrorless design as other models in Sony’s E-mount family as well as an advanced, 16.1 effective megapixel Exmor™ APS HD CMOS sensor, identical in size to sensors found in traditional DSLR cameras. The large sensor takes in more light during image capture, resulting in flawless, low-noise photographs and crisply detailed Full HD videos (60i/24p). Photographers can also easily create images with beautiful defocus effects, where the subject is focused sharply against a smoothly blurred background.

“Sony continues to redefine digital photography with our E-mount series, packing a large APS-C size sensor into a small, lightweight camera body to produce professional-quality images with ease,” said Mike Kahn, director of the Alpha business at Sony.

“Featuring a diverse set of imaging technologies and offered at a great price, the new NEX-F3 model reinforces our commitment to this rapidly growing compact system camera market."

The NEX-F3 camera adds a whole new perspective to self-portraits with a 180° Tiltable LCD screen, a first for Sony’s E-mount camera line. By simply holding the camera at arm’s length and flipping the LCD screen vertically, users can adjust the on-screen preview image and properly frame photos.

Additionally, the new model features a useful built-in flash to broaden shooting options indoors or in low light situations. Already introduced on Sony’s acclaimed NEX-7 camera, this pop-up flash handily brightens portraits and other shots without the need to carry an additional flash accessory.

The new NEX-F3 camera also includes the new Auto Portrait Framing feature for creating top-quality portraits quickly and easily. This innovative feature identifies a subject’s position in a composed image, and follows the “rule of thirds” to trim the scene appropriately around the subject’s face, creating a beautifully composed portrait.  The cropped portrait is then boosted to full resolution using Sony’s unique By Pixel Super Resolution technology, which uses pattern matching to maintain superb image detail, tones and textures in the photo.   Both the original and cropped image files are saved for review.

By Pixel Super Resolution Technology is also used for the “Clear Image Zoom” feature, which digitally doubles the effective magnification of any lens attached to the camera. Ideal for travel and everyday shooting, it’s a great way to boost maximum focal length without carrying extra hardware.

Other convenient essentials added to the new NEX-F3 camera include the Superior Auto mode,  which intelligently recognizes a wide range of scenes and subjects and adjusts settings automatically. Battery stamina has been boosted to an industry-leading 470 shots (approx.) on a single charge – an approximate 18% improvement over its predecessor, the NEX-C3 model.

The camera is compatible with the FDA-EV1S viewfinder accessory (sold separately), which offers a high-contrast, high-resolution OLED viewfinder display and a wide viewing angle. The NEX-F3 model also features a high-quality, premium-feel grip for more comfortable handling and can be charged via either USB or a standard AC outlet.

New Lightweight 18-200mm Telephoto Zoom Lens for Sony α NEX


An ideal travel partner for the NEX-F3 camera, the new SEL18200LE E18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS LE telezoom lens offers a powerful 11x zoom range and superb resolution in an easy-to-carry package. Smaller and 12% lighter than the SEL18200 lens, the new E-mount model features Optical SteadyShot to compensate for the effects of hand-shake. It also features Direct Manual Focus to give users precise control over focus settings, resulting in crisp, beautiful images.

Pricing and Availability

The new NEX-F3 compact digital camera will be available this June in silver, black and white with an 18-55mm kit zoom lens (model SEL1855) for about $600. The new SEL18200LE telezoom lens will be available this July in black for about $850.

The camera kit, new lens and a variety of compatible accessories including the LCS-EJC3 carrying case, STP-XSG1 shoulder strap and STP-WS2 wrist strap will be available at Sony retail stores (www.store.sony.com) and other authorized dealers nationwide.

Sony NEX-F3 specifications

Price
MSRP Body + 18-55mm lens: $599.99/ €599/£530
Body type
Body type Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor
Max resolution 4912 x 3264
Other resolutions 4912 x 2760, 3568 x 2368, 3568 x 2000, 2448 x 1624, 2448 x 1376
Image ratio w:h 3:2, 16:9
Effective pixels 16.1 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors 16.7 megapixels
Sensor size APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm)
Sensor type CMOS
Processor Bionz
Color space sRGB, AdobeRGB
Color filter array Primary color filter
Image
ISO Auto, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 16000
White balance presets 6
Custom white balance Yes (2500-9900k )
Image stabilization No
Uncompressed format RAW
JPEG quality levels Fine, Standard
File format
JPEG
RAW (ARW 2.2 Format)
RAW+JPEG
Optics & Focus
Autofocus
Contrast Detect (sensor)
Multi-area
Selective single-point
Single
Continuous
Live View
Digital zoom No
Manual focus Yes
Number of focus points 25
Lens mount Sony E Mount
Focal length multiplier 1.5×
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD Tilting
Screen size 3"
Screen dots 920,000
Touch screen No
Screen type TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Live view Yes
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional)
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed 30 sec
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 sec
Exposure modes
Auto Advanced
Auto
Program
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual
Memory Recall
Tele Zoom Hi Speed
3D Sweep Panorama
Sweep Panorama
Anti Motion Blur
Picture Effect
Scene selection
Scene modes
Portrait
Landscape
Macro
Sports Action
Sunset
Night Portrait
Night Scene
Hand-held Twilight
(6 shot layering)
Built-in flash Yes (Pop-up)
External flash Yes (Accessory Port)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Continuous drive Yes (2.5 or 5.5 fps)
Self-timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Metering modes
Multi
Center-weighted
Spot
Exposure compensation ±2 EV (at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV steps)
AE Bracketing (3 frames at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV steps)
WB Bracketing No
Videography features
Format
MPEG-4
AVCHD
Microphone Stereo
Speaker Mono
Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Videography notes 1080 @ 60 fps Interlaced, 24 fps Progressive
Storage
Storage types SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage included None
Connectivity
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI Yes (Mini Type C)
Wireless EyeFi
Physical
Environmentally sealed No
Battery Battery Pack
Battery description Lithium-Ion NP-FW50 rechargeable battery & USB charger
Battery Life (CIPA) 470
Weight (inc. batteries) 314 g (0.69 lb / 11.08 oz)
Dimensions 117 x 67 x 42 mm (4.61 x 2.64 x 1.65")
Other features
Orientation sensor Yes
Timelapse recording No
GPS None