Canon XC10 vs Sony NEX-3

Here, we are evaluating the Canon XC10 and Sony NEX-3, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Canon and Sony. The resolution of the XC10 (12MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the XC10 (1") and NEX-3 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The XC10 was revealed 4 years later than the NEX-3 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Canon XC10 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the XC10 grades vs the NEX-3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon XC10 and Sony Alpha NEX-3. The full galleries are viewable at Canon XC10 Gallery and Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon XC10 provides external dimensions of 125mm x 102mm x 122mm (4.9" x 4.0" x 4.8") with a weight of 1040 grams (2.29 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3 has dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Contrast the Canon XC10 and Sony NEX-3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the XC10 and the NEX-3.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the XC10 and NEX-3 is 54 and 89 respectively.

More often than not, it is difficult to see the difference in sensor sizing only by going through technical specs. The graphic underneath will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the XC10 and NEX-3.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The XC10 with its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony NEX-3 will provide greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more recent XC10 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.