Sony NEX C3

76

Winner

Sony NEX C3

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX C3

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
1,083 ISO
Overall image quality
Great image quality
73.0
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
921k dots
Color depth
Great color depth
22.7 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
1200 ms startup delay
Nikon 1 V1

61

Runner-up

Nikon 1 V1

Reasons to buy the Nikon 1 V1

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
921k dots
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital
High-speed framerate
High speed movies
1,200 fps
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
60 fps
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
Phase detection video autofocus
fast and accurate

differences

Advantages of the Nikon V1

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 1,200 fps vs None
Help
Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 60 fps vs 5.5 fps
Help
Around 11x faster continuous shooting
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Focus points Many more focus points 135 vs 25
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Autofocus Faster video autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Shoot videos without worrying about focus
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 97 ms vs 430 ms
Help
4.4x less delay when taking photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/16000s vs 1/4000s
Help
4x faster max shutter speed
Nikon 1 V1 Learn more about
the Nikon V1

Advantages of the Sony C3

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 1,083 ISO vs 346 ISO
Help
The C3 has excellent image quality 1.6 f-stops higher ISO than the V1
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 73.0 vs 54.0
Help
Around 40% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11 EV
Help
1.2 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 21.3 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.4 more bits of color
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture around 60% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs 1" 13.2x8.8mm
Help
More than 3x larger sensor
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The C3's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Battery life Longer battery life 400 shots vs 350 shots
Help
More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Size Smaller 110x60x33 mm vs 113x76x43 mm
Help
More than 40% smaller
Startup delay Less startup delay 1200 ms vs 1300 ms
Help
Around 10% less delay when turning on
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.7"
Help
More than 20% thinner
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 8 lenses vs 4 lenses
Help
2x more lenses available
Lowest price Cheaper $548.00 vs $796.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $249 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Weight Lighter 225 g vs 294 g
Help
More than 20% lighter
Sony NEX C3 Learn more about
the Sony C3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon 1 V1 Nikon 1 V1
61 vs 76
Explain scores
Sony NEX C3 Sony NEX C3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX C3.

advice

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by Amy-Elser this month
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I am a point and shoot photographer. I would like to upgrade to a bit more professional camera b...

One person recommends the Sony C3:

" Although the Sony NEX C3 doesn't have a built in flash it would still be my top choice. The N..."

0
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by Momneedshelp last month
Nikon V1 vs Olympus E-M5

Hello, I appreciate any help in deciding on a camera system. I'm a novice, but will take some cl...

One person recommends the Olympus E-M5:

" The Nikon 1 V1is very, VERY over-priced for what you get. You can set the E-M5 up to focus-&-fi..."

0
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by Aditya-Vikram-Thoomati last month
Nikon V1 vs Sony NEX-5

I'm a beginner at photography and I'm a bit confused in picking the right camera. My main use of...

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
921k dots
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Longest exposure Short max exposure time Help
30 seconds
Lens availability Few lenses available Help
V1:4 lenses
C3:8 lenses
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Battery life Has a significantly shorter battery life
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Touch screen Has a touch screen
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$739 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

Touch screen Has a touch screen
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker

Nikon 1 V1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon 1 V1.

Sony NEX C3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Size Larger
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$689 with 18-55mm lens

Storage slots Has more storage slots
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Low light performance Much more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality

appearance

Nikon 1 V1 Sony NEX C3
Nikon 1 V1 Sony NEX C3
Nikon 1 V1 Sony NEX C3

discussion

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