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Canon M vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
89
Imaging
59
Features
65
Overall
61
Canon EOS M front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
57
Features
57
Overall
57

Canon M vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Canon M
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 298g - 109 x 66 x 32mm
  • Released July 2012
Sony NEX-C3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-3
  • New Model is Sony NEX-F3
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Canon M vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Canon M versus Sony NEX-C3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by competitors Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the M (18MP) and the NEX-C3 (16MP) is very close and they use the same exact sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The M was announced 12 months after the NEX-C3 which means that they are of a similar age. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summation of how the M matches up vs the NEX-C3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon M over the Sony NEX-C3

 M NEX-C3 
IntroducedJuly 2012August 2011More modern by 12 months
Display resolution1040k920kCrisper display (+120k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Canon M

 NEX-C3 M 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Canon M and Sony NEX-C3

 M NEX-C3 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Canon M vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon M comes with outside measurements of 109mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs) and the Sony NEX-C3 has dimensions of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

See the Canon M versus Sony NEX-C3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at that moment. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the M versus the NEX-C3.

Canon M vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the M and NEX-C3 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Canon M vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Canon M vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizes just by viewing a spec sheet. The image below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the M and NEX-C3.

As you can see, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Canon M to render greater detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The newer M is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon M vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Canon M vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon M Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography details
75
you can focus manually
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
74
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon M as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Street photography camera
72
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
includes touch focus
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than average in class (225g)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon M Sports photography information
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography information
54
MP count decent (18MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (230 shots)
53
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great battery life (400 CIPA)
low fps (6.0 fps)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon M
Travel photography with Sony NEX-C3
63
includes touch focus
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (230 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
71
great battery life (400 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (225g)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon M Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography info
65
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (230 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
70
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (400 per charge)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon M
Vlogging with Sony NEX-C3
37
touchscreen enabled
features face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic socket
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
27
lighter than average in class (225 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
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Canon M vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M and Sony NEX-C3
 Canon EOS MSony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model type Canon EOS M Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-07-23 2011-08-22
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 5 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 31 25
Lens
Lens support Canon EF-M Sony E
Number of lenses 23 121
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology Clear View II TFT LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/200s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 298 grams (0.66 pounds) 225 grams (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 109 x 66 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 65 73
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.2 12.2
DXO Low light rating 827 1083
Other
Battery life 230 pictures 400 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E12 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $510 $343