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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-11 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
57
Features
57
Overall
57

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Announced July 2011
Sony NEX-C3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
  • Launched August 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-3
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-F3
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus SZ-11 versus Sony NEX-C3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-11 (14MP) and the NEX-C3 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the SZ-11 (1/2.3") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-11 was introduced very close to the NEX-C3 and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the SZ-11 matches up against the NEX-C3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Sony NEX-C3

 SZ-11 NEX-C3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Olympus SZ-11

 NEX-C3 SZ-11 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony NEX-C3

 SZ-11 NEX-C3 
LaunchedJuly 2011August 2011Same generation
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-11 features outer measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony NEX-C3 has sizing of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-11 versus Sony NEX-C3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the SZ-11 and the NEX-C3.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-11 and NEX-C3 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizes simply by seeing a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-11 and NEX-C3.

Clearly, both the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-11 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony NEX-C3 will produce greater detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography features
33
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
74
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
80
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than others (225 grams)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-11
Sports photography with Sony NEX-C3
43
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (200 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
53
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great battery life (400 shots)
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Travel photography factors
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than average (226g)
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
no Timelapse recording
low battery pack (200 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
71
great battery life (400 CIPA)
lighter than others (225 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Landscape photography details
Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography details
40
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery pack (200 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
70
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (400 per charge)
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Vlogging features
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging features
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than average (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone support
27
lighter than others (225g)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone support
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-11 and Sony NEX-C3
 Olympus SZ-11Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-11 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-07-27 2011-08-22
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 225 grams (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 1083
Other
Battery life 200 images 400 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $253 $343