Sony NEX
C3
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Sony NEX C3 vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-5

74

  
Sony NEX C3

64

  

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Size
 Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Thickness
 Thin
1.5"
Weight
 Light-weight
287 g
 
Runner-up

Sony NEX C3

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX C3

Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Size
 Really small
Compact 110x60x33 mm
Thickness
 Thin
1.3"
 

differences

Advantages of the Sony C3
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,083 ISO vs 796 ISO
Help
 The C3 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Battery life Longer battery life 400 shots vs 330 shots
Help
 More than 20% more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Better image quality 73.0 vs 69.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution 16 MP vs 14 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 430 ms vs 670 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Weight Lighter 225 g vs 287 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Size Slightly smaller 110x60x33 mm vs 111x59x38 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.5"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Sony NEX C3 Learn more about
the Sony C3

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 1000 ms vs 1200 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when turning on
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 7 fps vs 5.5 fps
Help
 Around 30% faster continuous shooting
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Sony NEX C3 Sony NEX C3
64 vs 74
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-5.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
12.2 EV
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Color depth Good color depth Help
C3:22.7 bits
NEX-5:22.2 bits
Panorama In-camera panoramas Help
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Size Fairly small Help
C3:110x60x33 mm
NEX-5:111x59x38 mm
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
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
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
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

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the NEX C3
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the NEX C3
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$379 - $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 NEX C3
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the NEX-7 vs the NEX C3
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the NEX C3
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D3100 vs the NEX C3
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$497 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 slightly smaller sensor
Compare the 1 J1 vs the NEX C3
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Sony NEX C3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Sony NEX C3.

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Sony Alpha NEX-5.

appearance

Sony NEX C3 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX C3 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX C3 Sony Alpha NEX-5

discussion

Showing 5 comments

Avatar for Chris Weyer Chris Weyer (10:46 PM, January 11, 2012)
That is the wrong pic for the front view of the NEX-5, the one shown is a NEX-3
 
Fr4nk01 (11:25 PM, December 19, 2011)
Where? I'm going there now...
 
Avatar for Sedge8 Sedge8 (3:01 PM, December 04, 2011)
The NEX-5 can't shoot 1080p at 30fps, it shoots at 1080i at 25fps. Though the NEX-5 is nice to hold with it's all metal body, the C3 should easily win with it's improved sensor, clearly producing better IQ and low light noise than the NEX-5, better battey life etc. I've seen the C3 as low as £290 this week with Sony cashback.
 
Javier Cabrera (2:43 AM, August 28, 2011)
??? sp the c3 have better quality but the nex 5 win because of popularity? snapsort you should not consider that matter.
 
Tiger Alitiger (6:43 AM, August 14, 2011)
what do you think i should buy is the image quality a similar or better on c3