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

Sony Alpha NEX-5

80

"The system for manually positioning AF points is quick and easy to use."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's auto-focus
"High quality video mode"
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
1000 ms startup delay
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Size
Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Sony NEX C3

76

Runner-up

Sony NEX C3

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX C3

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
1,083 ISO
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Size
Really small
Compact 110x60x33 mm

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
Overall image quality Better image quality 73.0 vs 69.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
Battery life Longer battery life 400 shots vs 330 shots
Help
More than 20% more shots per battery charge
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
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 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
76 vs 80
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-5.

advice

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I am considering either the C3 or the NEX-5,
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similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
C3:921k dots
NEX-5:920k dots
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
12.2 EV
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
C3:73.0
NEX-5:69.0
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
HDR Both have in-camera, most cameras like these don't Help
Combines multiple exposures
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
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
C3:1200 ms
NEX-5:1000 ms
Light sensitivity Very good maximum light sensitivity Help
12,800 ISO
Size Fairly small Help
C3:110x60x33 mm
NEX-5:111x59x38 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
C3:$548.00
NEX-5:$569.00
Weight Light weight Help
C3:225 g
NEX-5:287 g
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Longest exposure Short max exposure time Help
30 seconds
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
C3:430 ms
NEX-5:441 ms
Lens availability Few lenses available Help
8 lenses
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
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

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Thickness Is thicker
Startup delay Has much more startup delay
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 significantly smaller sensor
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
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
Weight Is slightly heavier
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Touch screen Has a touch screen
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier

Sony NEX C3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Low light performance Much more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality

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