Nikon L22 vs Sony NEX-C3

On this page, we are evaluating the Nikon L22 vs Sony NEX-C3, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the L22 (12MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) and the L22 (1/2.3") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The L22 was released 18 months before the NEX-C3 making them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Nikon L22 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the L22 scores against the NEX-C3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon Coolpix L22 and Sony Alpha NEX-C3. The complete galleries are viewable at Nikon L22 Gallery and Sony NEX-C3 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera often, you need to think about its weight and size. The Nikon L22 has exterior measurements of 98mm x 61mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 183 grams (0.40 lbs) and the Sony NEX-C3 has specifications of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Nikon L22 vs Sony NEX-C3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the L22 against the NEX-C3.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the L22 and NEX-C3 is 93 and 91 respectively.

Usually, it is very difficult to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions only by researching technical specs. The image below might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the L22 and NEX-C3.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The L22 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony NEX-C3 will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged L22 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.