Updated (June, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1100D vs Sony NEX C3

Canon EOS 500D

48

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 500D

Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 20fps
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Lens availability
Slightly more lenses available
162 lenses
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Pentamirror
Sony Alpha NEX-3

47

"The Sony NEX-3 and NEX-5 are unique cameras that will be remembered for their design as well as their excellent image quality/"
imaging-resource.com | talking about the NEX-3's image-quality
"Most impressive is that it focuses fast enough to track a subject running full speed at the camera"
imaging-resource.com | talking about the NEX-3's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-3

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Size
Really small
Compact 117x62x33 mm
Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures

differences

Advantages of the Canon 500D

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 20fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
Around 20.5x more lenses available
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 1000 ms
Help
3.3x less delay when turning on
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 159 ms vs 441 ms
Help
2.8x less delay when taking photos
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 14 MP
Help
Capture around 10% more detail in your photos
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 400 shots vs 330 shots
Help
More than 20% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $539.00 vs $689.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $150 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Canon EOS 500D Learn more about
the Canon 500D

Advantages of the Sony NEX-3

External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Size Significantly smaller 117x62x33 mm vs 129x98x62 mm
Help
3.3x smaller
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The NEX-3's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Overall image quality Better image quality 68.0 vs 63.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 3.4 fps
Help
More than 2x faster continuous shooting
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Weight Lighter 297 g vs 520 g
Help
More than 40% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 2.4"
Help
Around 50% thinner
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 830 ISO vs 663 ISO
Help
The NEX-3 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
Around 10% larger sensor
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 500D Canon EOS 500D
48 vs 47
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution Very high resolution screens Help
920k dots
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
500D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
NEX-3:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
500D:15.1 MP
NEX-3:14 MP
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
500D:1
NEX-3:0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 550D

Canon EOS 550D

Entry-level DSLR

$691 - $916 body only

$731 - $874 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$489 - $559 body only

$587 - $643 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$863 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay

Canon EOS 500D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Size Larger
Weight Heavier
Canon EOS 450D

Canon EOS 450D

Entry-level DSLR

$1,110 body only

Battery life Longer battery life
Color depth Better color depth
Movie format Does not take movies
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen

Sony Alpha NEX-3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Overall image quality Better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$469 body only

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Screen size Significantly smaller screen

appearance

Canon EOS 500D Sony Alpha NEX-3
Canon EOS 500D Sony Alpha NEX-3
Canon EOS 500D Sony Alpha NEX-3

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