Olympus 9000 vs Sony NEX-C3

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus 9000 versus Sony NEX-C3, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the 9000 (12MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) and the 9000 (1/2.3") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The 9000 was released 3 years prior to the NEX-C3 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus 9000 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a complete comparison, here is a short highlight of how the 9000 grades against the NEX-C3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus 9000 and Sony Alpha NEX-C3. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus 9000 Gallery and Sony NEX-C3 Gallery.

If you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Olympus 9000 has got outside measurements of 96mm x 60mm x 31mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony NEX-C3 has specifications of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus 9000 versus Sony NEX-C3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the 9000 versus the NEX-C3.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 9000 and NEX-C3 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Typically, it's tough to picture the gap between sensor sizing just by reading a spec sheet. The visual below may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the 9000 and NEX-C3.

As you can see, the 2 cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The 9000 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony NEX-C3 will offer more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots more aggressively. The older 9000 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.