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Sony NEX-C3 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Sony NEX-C3

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    Main Features

    • 16MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
    • ISO 100 - 12800
    • 3" Tilting Screen
    • 6 fps continuous shooting
    • HD - 1280 x 720 video
    • 225g. 110 x 60 x 33 mm
    • Replaced Sony NEX-3
    • Replaced by Sony NEX-F3
    CHECK PRICE
    CHECK PRICE

    Sony NEX-C3 Overview

    First introduced in August 2011 , Sony Alpha NEX-C3 is a 16.0MP Entry-Level Mirrorless camera with a APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor, Tilting screen and Sony E lens mount. Sony replaced the older Sony NEX-3 with this model and later NEX-C3 was replaced with Sony NEX-F3. Follow the links to compare these cameras in detail:
    Compare Sony Alpha NEX-C3 vs Sony NEX-3
    Compare Sony Alpha NEX-C3 vs Sony NEX-F3

    Sony NEX-C3 Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Lens Mount and Lenses
    4. Sensor and Photography Features
    5. Physical Specs
    6. LCD and Viewfinder
    7. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    8. Video
    9. Other Features
    10. Photography Type Scores
    11. Alternatives
    12. Popular Comparisons
    13. Frequently Asked Questions
    14. Detailed Specifications

    Sony NEX-C3 is a member of Sony's NEX series of cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this series and how their main specs have changed with each new version.

    Sony NEX Series History
    Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
    Sony NEX-5T
    Compare
    2013 16.0MP - APS-C 10.0 fps 111 x 59 x 39mm 276g
    Sony NEX-6
    Compare
    2013 16.0MP - APS-C 10.0 fps 120 x 67 x 43mm 345g
    Sony NEX-3N
    Compare
    2013 16.0MP - APS-C 4.0 fps 110 x 62 x 35mm 269g
    Sony NEX-5R
    Compare
    2012 16.0MP - APS-C 10.0 fps 111 x 59 x 39mm 276g
    Sony NEX-F3
    Compare
    2012 16.0MP - APS-C 6.0 fps 117 x 67 x 42mm 314g

    Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series:
    Sony NEX-5T vs NEX-6 vs NEX-3N vs NEX-5R vs NEX-F3

    Sony NEX-C3 has an Overall Score of 53/100 and ranked #181 out of 212 in Mirrorless cameras (Top 10 Mirrorless), and ranked #423 out of 1221 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.



    Sony NEX-C3 Physical Specs
    Sony NEX-C3 weighs 225 g (0.50 lb / 7.94 oz) and has external dimensions of 110 x 60 x 33 mm (4.33 x 2.36 x 1.3″). Considering that the average weight of Mirrorless type cameras is 443g, Sony NEX-C3 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 33mm, it is also quite small, 17mm thinner than the average of its class.
    Weight Comparison

    Mirrorless Cameras

    Sony NEX-C3
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Mirrorless Cameras

    Sony NEX-C3
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Here is the front and top view image of Sony NEX-C3 with the dimensions:

    Sony NEX-C3 Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Sony NEX-C3 Camera Body

    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Sony NEX-C3, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Sony NEX-C3 Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Sony NEX-C3 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

    Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Sony NEX-C3 with its main competitors:

    Sony NEX-C3 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs NEX-C3 Thickness vs NEX-C3
    Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Camera Sony NEX-5N
    Compare
    269g 44g heavier 38mm 5mm thicker
    Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Camera Sony NEX-F3
    Compare
    314g 89g heavier 42mm 9mm thicker
    Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Camera Sony NEX-3
    Compare
    297g 72g heavier 33mm equal thickness
    Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Camera Sony NEX-5
    Compare
    287g 62g heavier 38mm 5mm thicker
    Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Camera Sony A7
    Compare
    474g 249g heavier 48mm 15mm thicker
    Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Camera Sony NEX-3N
    Compare
    269g 44g heavier 35mm 2mm thicker
    Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Camera Sony NEX-5R
    Compare
    276g 51g heavier 39mm 6mm thicker
    Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Camera Sony a5000
    Compare
    269g 44g heavier 36mm 3mm thicker

    Weather Sealing

    Sony NEX-C3 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Sony NEX-C3 Sensor and Photography Features

    Sony NEX-C3 has a 16.0MP APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Bionz processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4912 x 3264 pixels with aspect ratios of 3:2 and 16:9. NEX-C3 has a native ISO range of 100 - 12800 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

    Sony NEX-C3 is not the highest resolution APS-C camera. Canon M6 MII with its 33.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Sony NEX-C3 vs Canon M6 MII or take a look at Highest resolution Mirrorless cameras list.

    Sony NEX-C3 DxOMark Sensor Scores

    DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Sony NEX-C3 sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 73 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Sony NEX-C3 here.

    Let's look at how the size of the Sony NEX-C3's APS-C sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

    Sony NEX-C3 Lens Mount and Lenses

    Sony NEX-C3 has a Sony E lens mount and currently there are 128 native lenses available for this mount. Sony keeps on adding new lenses to its E and FE mount selection and third party lens manufacturers also offer lot of good options. Thanks to its very short flange focal distance, choices of adapting lenses from other mounts are almost limitless. Sony also sells an adapter (Sony LA-EA4) which lets A mount lenses to be used with functionality including AF with E mount cameras. Metabones and Fotodiox also offers adapters which makes use of full range of Canon EF lenses with Auto Focus on E mount cameras.

    Sony NEX-C3 doesn't have a sensor based image stabilization system but 31 of these lenses already comes with Optical Image Stabilization. There are also 60 lenses with weather sealing for NEX-C3 but bear in mind that NEX-C3 body doesn't have weather sealings.

    Here are some of the most popular Sony NEX-C3 Lenses on Camera Decision:

    Popular Sony E Mount Lenses for Sony NEX-C3
    Model Focal Length on NEX-C3 Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
    Sony FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS Lens Sony FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS
    36-360mm 35mm FF 780gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar T Lens Sony FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar T
    36-105mm 35mm FF 426gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS Lens Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS
    82.5-315mm APS-C / DX 345gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS Lens Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS
    105-300mm 35mm FF 840gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T Lens Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T
    52.5mm 35mm FF 120gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS Lens Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
    105-450mm 35mm FF 854gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Lens Sony FE 50mm F1.8
    75mm 35mm FF 186gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS Lens Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS
    24-75mm APS-C / DX 116gr AF Amazon B&H Photo

    Check our Sony NEX-C3 Lenses page for more detailed lens search.



    Sony NEX-C3 LCD

    Sony NEX-C3 has a Tilting 3" LCD screen with a resolution of 920k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.



    Sony NEX-C3 back view and LCD

    NEX-C3 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Mirrorless camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Olympus OM-D E-M10 II (Compare) or Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 (Compare).
    If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

    Sony NEX-C3 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    You can connect NEX-C3 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

    Battery

    Sony NEX-C3 is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 400 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Mirrorless type cameras is 369 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.

    Battery Life Comparison in Entry-Level Mirrorless Cameras

    Sony NEX-C3
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Samsung NX mini with its 650shots is the model with longest battery life among Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras. Check the comparison of Sony NEX-C3 vs Samsung NX mini or take a look at Longest Battery Life Mirrorless cameras list.

    Sony NEX-C3 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Camera Sony NEX-5N
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 460shots No No No
    Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Camera Sony NEX-F3
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 470shots No No No
    Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Camera Sony NEX-3
    Compare
    1280 x 720 330shots No No No
    Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Camera Sony NEX-5
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 330shots No No No
    Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Camera Sony A7
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 340shots Yes No Yes
    Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Camera Sony NEX-3N
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 480shots No No No
    Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Camera Sony NEX-5R
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 330shots Yes No No
    Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Camera Sony a5000
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 420shots Yes No Yes

    Sony NEX-C3 Video Features

    With Sony NEX-C3, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30 fps and save in and MPEG-4 formats. 1280 x 720 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .

    NEX-C3 has a built-in Stereo microphone but no speaker.
    Sony NEX-C3 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Mirrorless camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Fujifilm X-T10 or Nikon 1 V3 in a similar price range.

    Sony NEX-C3 Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Sony NEX-C3 can shoot continuously at max speed of 6 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/4000 sec.

    Flash

    Unfortunately NEX-C3 doesn't have a built-in flash but it has a flash shoe for mounting external flashes.

    Focusing

    Sony NEX-C3 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 25 points to choose from.

    Sony NEX-C3 PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Sony NEX-C3 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Articulating Screen
    12.800 Max ISO
    25 Focus Points
    920k dots LCD Resolution
    6.0fps Shooting w/ Mechanical Shutter
    225g Light Body
    Good Low Light ISO - 1083
    3D Shooting Capability
    Panorama Shooting
    Flash Sync Port
    Report a correction

    Buy Sony NEX-C3 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Image Stabilization
    No Full HD Video
    No Touch Screen
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No External Viewfinder Option
    x magnification - Small Viewfinder
    No Face Detection Focusing
    Low Battery Life: 400 shots
    No Environmental Sealing
    Report a correction
    What type of Photography is Sony NEX-C3 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Sony NEX-C3 in 5 different photography areas.

    Sony NEX-C3 for Portrait Photography

    Sony NEX-C3 has a score of 45 for Portrait Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Portrait Photography list.
    Large APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) sensor
    Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
    Average Ergonomics&Handling
    No Image Stabilization
    No Built-in Viewfinder

    Read the details of how we scored Sony NEX-C3 for Portrait Photography

    Sony NEX-C3 for Street Photography

    Sony NEX-C3 has a score of 53 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Street Photography list.
    Live-view
    Tilting LCD Screen
    Large APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) sensor
    Medium sized Body
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Image Stabilization

    Read the details of how we scored Sony NEX-C3 for Street Photography

    Sony NEX-C3 for Sports Photography

    Sony NEX-C3 has a score of 57 for Sports Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Sports is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Sports Photography list.
    Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
    25 Focus Points
    Good Low Light ISO
    Average Continuous Shooting: 6.0fps
    Average Ergonomics&Handling
    Environmental Sealings
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Image Stabilization

    Read the details of how we scored Sony NEX-C3 for Sports Photography

    Sony NEX-C3 for Daily Photography

    Sony NEX-C3 has a score of 67 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    225g
    Large APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) sensor
    Medium size Body

    Read the details of how we scored Sony NEX-C3 for Daily Photography

    Sony NEX-C3 for Landscape Photography

    Sony NEX-C3 has a score of 38 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theNEX-C3.
    Live-view
    Large APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) sensor
    Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
    No Environmental Sealings

    Read the details of how we scored Sony NEX-C3 for Landscape Photography
    Sony NEX-C3 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Sony NEX-C3 compares with other Mirrorless cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Sony NEX-C3 alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Sony NEX-C3

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Sony NEX-C3 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Sony NEX-5N
    Sony NEX-5N
    Compare
    Sony NEX-F3
    Sony NEX-F3
    Compare
    Sony NEX-3
    Sony NEX-3
    Compare
    Sony NEX-5
    Sony NEX-5
    Compare
    Sony A7
    Sony A7
    Compare
    Sony NEX-3N
    Sony NEX-3N
    Compare
    Sony NEX-5R
    Sony NEX-5R
    Compare
    Sony a5000
    Sony a5000
    Compare

    Sony NEX-C3 Alternatives in DSLR Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Sony NEX-C3 with DSLR Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked DSLR cameras in Sony NEX-C3's price range.

    Pentax K-3
    Pentax K-3
    Compare
    Pentax K-S2
    Pentax K-S2
    Compare
    Nikon D5500
    Nikon D5500
    Compare
    Nikon D7100
    Nikon D7100
    Compare
    Nikon D5300
    Nikon D5300
    Compare
    Pentax K-5 IIs
    Pentax K-5 IIs
    Compare
    Pentax K-5
    Pentax K-5
    Compare
    Sony A55
    Sony A55
    Compare
    Frequently Asked Questions about Sony NEX-C3
    Does the Sony NEX-C3 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Sony NEX-C3 have RAW support?
    Does the Sony NEX-C3 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Sony NEX-C3 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Sony NEX-C3?
    What is the Sensor Size of Sony NEX-C3?
    is the Sony NEX-C3 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Sony NEX-C3 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Sony NEX-C3 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Sony NEX-C3?
    What is the Weight of Sony NEX-C3?
    What are the Dimensions of Sony NEX-C3?
    Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Sony
    Model Sony Alpha NEX-C3
    Announced 2011-08-22
    Body Type Rangefinder-style mirrorless
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount Sony E
    Number of Lenses 128
    Focal Length Multiplier 1.5×
    Macro Focus Range n/a
    Screen
    Screen Type Tilting
    Screen Technology TFT Xtra Fine LCD
    Screen Size 3"
    Screen Resolution 920k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder None
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 30s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 6.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation Yes
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range no built-in flash
    Max Flash Sync 1/160s
    Flash Modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score 73
    DxO Color Depth 22.7
    DxO Dynamic Range 12.2
    DxO Low Light ISO 1083
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CMOS
    Sensor Size APS-C
    Sensor Dimensions 23.4 x 15.6 mm
    Sensor Area 365.04mm2
    Sensor Resolution 16 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4912 x 3264
    Max Native ISO 12,800
    Min Native ISO 100
    RAW Support
    Autofocus
    AF Touch
    AF Continuous
    AF Single
    AF Tracking
    AF Selective
    AF Center
    AF Multi Area
    AF Live View
    AF Face Detection
    AF Contrast Detection
    AF Phase Detection
    Number of Focus Points 25
    Number of Cross Focus Points Unknown
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
    Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720
    Video Formats MPEG-4
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 225g
    Physical Dimensions 110 x 60 x 33mm
    Battery Life 400 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Battery Model NPFW50
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
    Storage Slots 1


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