Sony NEX C3

51

Winner

Sony NEX C3

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX C3

Overall image quality
Great image quality
73.0
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
921k dots
True resolution
High true resolution
16 MP
Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Color depth
Great color depth
22.7 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1

47

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1

Size
Really small
Compact 98x55x26 mm
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Thickness
Thin
1"
Weight
Light-weight
158 g
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
Usually standard
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-ZR1

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
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
Size Slightly smaller 98x55x26 mm vs 110x60x33 mm
Help
Around 40% smaller
Weight Lighter 158 g vs 225 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
Thickness Slightly thinner 1" vs 1.3"
Help
More than 20% thinner
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-ZR1

Advantages of the Sony C3

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4x higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
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
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
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The C3's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
True resolution Much higher true resolution 16 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Capture more than 60% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.1x4.6mm
Help
Around 13x larger sensor
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5.5 fps vs 2.3 fps
Help
Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Sony NEX C3 Learn more about
the Sony C3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
47 vs 51
Explain scores
Sony NEX C3 Sony NEX C3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX C3. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a travel zoom with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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by Amy-Elser this month
Sony C3 vs Sony NEX-3

I am essentially a beginner.  I'd like to  try to video my kids events and pull pictures from th...

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Panasonic DMC-GF3 vs Sony C3

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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..."

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
DMC-ZR1:60s
C3:30s
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Aperture Has a much wider aperture
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Aperture Has a much wider aperture
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$731 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$339

Aperture Much wider aperture
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Size Larger
Zoom Slightly less zoom
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3

Travel zoom

$298

Fastest shutter speed Significantly slower max shutter speed
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

Travel zoom

$361

Screen size Significantly larger screen
GPS Has a GPS
Size Slightly larger
Weight Heavier
Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$148 - $179

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Zoom Slightly less zoom
Longest exposure Much shorter max exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25

Travel zoom

$149 - $200

Weight Slightly lighter
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Macro focus Worse macro capability

Sony NEX C3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Startup delay More startup delay
Weight Slightly heavier
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
True resolution Lower true resolution
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
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$689 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Overall image quality Worse image quality
True resolution Lower true resolution
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 Sony NEX C3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 Sony NEX C3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 Sony NEX C3

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