Pixiq

It’s only been around eight months, but it seems that Sony has called time on the production of the interchangeable lens NEX-3 camera. According to Sony’s Japan website, the NEX-3 is ‘no longer in production’ and the buy-button has been disabled. The UK website hasn’t followed suit yet, and neither has the US version, but I doubt they’ll be far behind.

Sony hasn’t told us why they’ve axed the NEX-3 yet, but considering how similar it is to the NEX-5, it’s not that surprising. When they were released last summer, there seemed to be little to choose between the NEX-3 and the NEX-5, save for a £100 difference in price, and more beefy video capability and a magnesium body on the NEX-5.

Consumer choice is a good thing. I don’t want to be restricted to a handful of cameras and a couple of lenses. But at the same time, the choices on offer need to be distinctive and clearly marketable. I want to be able to buy a product feeling certain that I’ve made the right choice. Give me too many options too close in spec with nothing to really set them apart and my confidence might not be so strong. Maybe Sony’s realised this?