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
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

63

"For someone considering a camera to improve upon compact digital image quality, the mirrorless interchangeable lens genre is a slam dunk."
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the DMC-G3's overall-performance
"Otherwise, control placement seems logical and Panasonic has arranged them so as to present little potential for inadvertent activations"
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the DMC-G3's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital
Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G3

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 293 ms vs 430 ms
Help
More than 30% less delay when taking photos
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
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
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $499.87 vs $548.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $48 cheaper (around 10% less)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G3

Advantages of the Sony C3

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,083 ISO vs 667 ISO
Help
The C3 has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 73.0 vs 56.0
Help
More than 30% better image quality
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 460k dots
Help
More than 2x higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.6 EV
Help
1.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 21 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.7 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
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 400 shots vs 270 shots
Help
Around 50% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The C3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
More than 60% larger sensor
Size Significantly smaller 110x60x33 mm vs 115x84x47 mm
Help
2.1x smaller
Startup delay Less startup delay 1200 ms vs 1400 ms
Help
More than 10% less delay when turning on
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.3" vs 1.9"
Help
Around 30% thinner
Weight Lighter 225 g vs 336 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 5.5 fps vs 4 fps
Help
Around 40% faster continuous shooting
Sony NEX C3 Learn more about
the Sony C3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
63 vs 76
Explain scores
Sony NEX C3 Sony NEX C3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX C3.

advice

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0
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by Amy-Elser this month
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I am essentially a beginner.  I'd like to  try to video my kids events and pull pictures from th...

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by jancasey last month
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1
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by Rajesh-Venkataraman last 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..."

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by Marcia-Powdermaker last month
Nikon V1 vs Panasonic DMC-G3

I am not a beginner, I have used SLRs for years, but haven't had a DSLR camera. I have used the...

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by creativesoulny this month
Panasonic DMC-G3 vs Sony NEX-5N

I travel internationally and take photos, some of which I sell after printing on my Epson printe...

One person recommends the Panasonic DMC-G3:

" the panasonic, it might have a smaller(4/3 vs aps-c) sensor but the images are considered crysta..."

One person recommends the Sony NEX-5N:

" I'd recommend the Sony NEX-5N, it has a huge sensor (APS-C), and tons of great built in features..."

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
DMC-G3:$499.87
C3:$548.00
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
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
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Startup delay Has much more startup delay
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$731 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
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
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $997 with 14-42mm lens

Supports 24p Supports 24p
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Size Much larger
Thickness Much thicker
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$615 - $642 with 14-42mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Low light performance More noise at high ISO

Sony NEX C3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
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

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Sony NEX C3
Sony NEX C3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Sony NEX C3

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