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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Olympus VG-160
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2012
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
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-3
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-F3
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-C3, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the NEX-C3 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the VG-160 (1/2.3") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The VG-160 was introduced 5 months later than the NEX-C3 and they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the VG-160 matches up versus the NEX-C3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Sony NEX-C3

 VG-160 NEX-C3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Olympus VG-160

 NEX-C3 VG-160 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Sony NEX-C3

 VG-160 NEX-C3 
LaunchedJanuary 2012August 2011Same age
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus VG-160 offers physical dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst 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 VG-160 vs Sony NEX-C3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the VG-160 and the NEX-C3.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the VG-160 and NEX-C3 is 96 and 91 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to see the contrast in sensor sizing simply by going through specifications. The graphic underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-160 and NEX-C3.

To sum up, both of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The VG-160 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony NEX-C3 will provide greater detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures more aggressively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography info
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography info
33
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
73
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography factors
56
lighter than competition (125g)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
79
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than average in class (225g)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Sports photography camera
26
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (165 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
53
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (400 per charge)
slow frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VG-160
Travel photography with Sony NEX-C3
65
lighter than competition (125g)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery (165 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
better than average battery pack (400 shots)
lighter than average in class (225 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
does not have Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography factors
36
rather wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
terrible battery (165 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
70
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (400 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VG-160
Vlogging with Sony NEX-C3
30
rather wide (26mm)
includes face detect focusing
lighter than competition (125g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone jack
27
lighter than average in class (225g)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Sony NEX-C3
 Olympus VG-160Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VG-160 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2012-01-10 2011-08-22
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - 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 surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focusing range 7cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed - 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.80 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125 grams (0.28 lb) 225 grams (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 1083
Other
Battery life 165 shots 400 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $90 $343