Fujifilm X-A2 vs Sony NEX-F3 — Which Is Better?

The Fujifilm X-A2 and the Sony NEX-F3 are compact APS-C mirrorless cameras built around interchangeable-lens bodies sized for everyday carry. The Fujifilm arrived in 2015, three years after the 2012 Sony, so it is the newer design of the pair. Both bodies measure 117 x 67 mm, with the Sony just 2 mm deeper at 42 mm.

A difference in weight separates them: the Sony body is 314 g against 350 g for the Fujifilm, a 36 g saving of about 10 percent. That makes the NEX-F3 the lighter camera to slip in a bag or jacket pocket, while the X-A2 carries slightly more mass in the same footprint.

Cropping room and print sizes are effectively the same, because both cameras use an APS-C CMOS sensor at 16 megapixels on the Fujifilm and 16.1 on the Sony. Neither body has in-body stabilisation or a built-in viewfinder, so framing happens on the rear screen and steady handheld shooting depends on shutter speed or an optically stabilised lens.

For off-centre subjects, the X-A2 has the denser autofocus coverage with 49 AF points against 25 on the NEX-F3. On sensitivity, the Sony's native range reaches 16000 ISO while the Fujifilm stops at 6400 ISO natively but extends to 25600 ISO in expanded mode. The mounts also differ, pairing Fujifilm X lenses on one side and Sony E lenses on the other, with no cross-fit between them.

Casual video is a shared strength here, since both cameras record Standard HD clips at up to 30 fps. Neither offers 4K or a built-in timelapse mode, so both suit simple family clips and web sharing rather than detailed production work.

The practical difference is the file format, as the NEX-F3 records MP4 clips while the X-A2 records MOV. Whichever of those formats your editing app or playback devices handle more directly should guide the choice for clips moving straight from card to a simple timeline.

The X-A2 is the better pick for wireless transfer, because it offers built-in Wi-Fi while the NEX-F3 has no wireless connectivity. You can move photos from the Fujifilm straight to a phone for quick sharing, an option the Sony does not offer.

The Sony adds live view to its shooting options, a capability the Fujifilm does not offer. The rear screens match, with a 3-inch 920000-dot LCD that tilts on both cameras for waist-level or self-framed shots. Both include a built-in flash and support an external flash, while neither offers GPS, weather sealing or touch control.

The NEX-F3 has the higher rated battery life at 470 shots per charge against 410 for the X-A2, a 60-shot advantage. For a full day of sightseeing, that rating favours the Sony as the longer-running camera of the pair.

Card options also differ. Both accept SD, SDHC and SDXC cards in a single slot, but the Sony additionally takes Memory Stick Pro Duo and Pro-HG Duo media, useful if you already own those cards. Neither camera supports USB charging, and each uses its own NP-W126 or NP-FW50 battery type.