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
True resolution
High true resolution
16 MP
Olympus PEN E-P1

47

Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-P1

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P1

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-P1

Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Lens availability More lenses available 26 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
Around 3.5x more lenses available
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
Lowest price Cheaper $184.49 vs $548.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $364 cheaper (3x less)
Olympus PEN E-P1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-P1

Advantages of the Sony C3

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,083 ISO vs 536 ISO
Help
The C3 has excellent image quality 1 f-stop higher ISO than the PEN E-P1
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4x higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 73.0 vs 55.0
Help
More than 30% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.4 EV
Help
1.8 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
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
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 21.4 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
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
True resolution Higher true resolution 16 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
More than 50% larger sensor
Size Smaller 110x60x33 mm vs 121x70x36 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Weight Lighter 225 g vs 355 g
Help
Around 40% lighter
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 5.5 fps vs 3 fps
Help
More than 80% faster continuous shooting
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.4"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Sony NEX C3 Learn more about
the Sony C3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus PEN E-P1
47 vs 76
Explain scores
Sony NEX C3 Sony NEX C3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX C3.

advice

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Sony C3 vs Sony NEX-3

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Panasonic DMC-GF3 vs Sony C3

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One person recommends the Sony C3:

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similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
PEN E-P1:$184.49
C3:$548.00
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen

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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$689 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$589 - $600 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $900 with 17mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier

Olympus PEN E-P1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Color depth Better color depth
Screen size Much smaller screen
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Olympus PEN E-P2

Olympus PEN E-P2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$480 with 17mm lens

Color depth Better color depth
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Lowest price More expensive

Sony NEX C3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Startup delay Less startup delay
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality
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

appearance

Olympus PEN E-P1 Sony NEX C3
Olympus PEN E-P1 Sony NEX C3
Olympus PEN E-P1 Sony NEX C3

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