Pentax
Q
 vs
Sony NEX
C3

Sony NEX C3

64

  
Pentax Q

49

  
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
Color depth
 Great color depth
22.7 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
True resolution
 High true resolution
16 MP
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
1200 ms startup delay
 
Runner-up

Pentax Q

Reasons to buy the Pentax Q

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Size
 Really small
Compact 98x57x31 mm
Thickness
 Thin
1.2"
Weight
 Light-weight
200 g
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 

differences

Advantages of the Pentax Q
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift 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 98x57x31 mm vs 110x60x33 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $279.00 vs $549.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $270 cheaper (around 50% less)
Weight Slightly lighter 200 g vs 225 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.2" vs 1.3"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Pentax Q Learn more about
the Pentax Q

Advantages of the Sony C3
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 1,083 ISO vs 189 ISO
Help
 The C3 has excellent image quality 2.5 f-stops higher ISO than the Q
Overall image quality Much better image quality 73.0 vs 47.0
Help
 Around 60% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 20.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.5 more bits of color
Startup delay Much less startup delay 1200 ms vs 3700 ms
Help
 3.1x less delay when turning on
Battery life Much longer battery life 400 shots vs 230 shots
Help
 More than 70% more shots per battery charge
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
 1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
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
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
 More than 13x larger sensor
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
 Capture around 70% more detail in your photos
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
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 8 lenses vs 4 lenses
Help
 2x more lenses available
Sony NEX C3 Learn more about
the Sony C3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Pentax Q Pentax Q
49 vs 64
Explain scores
Sony NEX C3 Sony NEX C3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX C3.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Size Fairly small Help
Q:98x57x31 mm
C3:110x60x33 mm
Weight Light weight Help
Q:200 g
C3:225 g
Thickness Thin Help
Q:1.2"
C3:1.3"
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Longest exposure Short max exposure time Help
30 seconds
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Focus points Few focus points Help
25
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 - $730 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
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Q
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the NEX C3
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Q
Compare the NEX-5N vs the NEX C3
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$397 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Weight Is slightly heavier
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Q
Compare the 1 J1 vs the NEX C3
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 - $782 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Q
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX C3
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$395 with 10-30mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the 1 V1 vs the Q
Compare the 1 V1 vs the NEX C3
Pentax K-01

Pentax K-01

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the K-01 vs the Q
Compare the K-01 vs the NEX C3
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 with 14-42mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Longest exposure Slightly longer exposures
Weight Is slightly heavier
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the Q
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the NEX C3

Pentax Q Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax Q10

Pentax Q10

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$497 with 5-15mm lens
Color depth Better color depth
Battery life Longer battery life
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Size Slightly larger
Compare the Q10 vs the Q
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$549
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Interchangeable lenses Built-in lens only
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the Q

Sony NEX C3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the NEX C3
Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Image stabilization Image stabilization
External flash No external flash support
Weight Heavier
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the NEX C3

appearance

Pentax Q Sony NEX C3
Pentax Q Sony NEX C3
Sony NEX C3

discussion

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