Fujifilm X-A3 vs Sony NEX-7 — Which Is Better?

The Fujifilm X-A3 and the Sony NEX-7 are compact APS-C mirrorless cameras separated by five years. The 2016 X-A3 is a lightweight, touchscreen-led body for everyday photography, while the 2011 NEX-7 adds a built-in electronic viewfinder. The X-A3 is also the lighter carry at 339 g against 400 g.

Both use APS-C CMOS sensors of essentially matching resolution, 24 MP against 24.3 MP, so neither gives a meaningful cropping advantage. Their lens mounts differ, so your existing Fujifilm X or Sony E glass should steer the decision.

The NEX-7 is the stronger choice for photographing fast-moving subjects, because it shoots at up to 10 frames per second against 6 fps on the X-A3. That extra speed helps capture a fleeting expression in children's portraits or a bird mid take-off. Both cap shutter speed at 1/4000 second, so bright-day exposure control is equal.

The NEX-7 makes eye-level framing easy with its built-in 2,359,000-dot electronic viewfinder, while the X-A3 has none and relies on its rear screen. The X-A3 answers with 77 autofocus points against 25, giving many more positions for off-centre focus. Neither stabilises the sensor, so handheld sharpness in dim light depends on your lens.

Casual family and travel clips are equally served, because both cameras top out at Full HD resolution and both offer frame rates up to 60 fps. That 60 fps ceiling gives modest slow motion on a slower playback timeline. Neither includes a built-in timelapse mode.

The X-A3 records MPEG-4 and MOV files, while the NEX-7 records MP4, so match that to your editing software.

The X-A3 is the easier camera for quick adjustments, because its rear screen responds to touch and the NEX-7's does not. You can tap to set focus on a face, and both cameras flip their screens out for self-framed portraits. Its display is also more detailed, at 1,040,000 dots against 921,000.

Everyday features are shared. Both have a 3-inch LCD, built-in flash with an external flash shoe, live view, and Wi-Fi for wireless transfer. Neither has GPS for geotagging travel photos, weather sealing or Bluetooth.

Storage flexibility favours the NEX-7, which accepts SD, SDHC and SDXC cards alongside Memory Stick Pro Duo and Pro-HG Duo media, while the X-A3 takes SD-type cards only. Each camera has a single card slot, so neither offers in-camera backup for a paid shoot.

Battery life sits close together. The NEX-7 is rated for 430 shots and the X-A3 for 410. Each uses its own battery, the NP-FW50 in the Sony and the NP-W126S in the Fujifilm, and neither charges over USB.