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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Olympus XZ-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 346g - 113 x 65 x 48mm
  • Announced December 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
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-3
  • Successor is Sony NEX-F3
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony NEX-C3, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) boast different sensor size.

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The XZ-2 iHS was released 17 months later than the NEX-C3 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the XZ-2 iHS scores against the NEX-C3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Sony NEX-C3

 XZ-2 iHS NEX-C3 
IntroducedDecember 2012August 2011More recent by 17 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 NEX-C3 XZ-2 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony NEX-C3

 XZ-2 iHS NEX-C3 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Screen resolution920k920kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS offers exterior dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) and the Sony NEX-C3 has measurements of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Examine the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony NEX-C3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view size comparison of the XZ-2 iHS against the NEX-C3.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XZ-2 iHS and NEX-C3 is 85 and 91 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualize the gap in sensor measurements just by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the XZ-2 iHS and NEX-C3.

As you can see, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The XZ-2 iHS featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh harder and the Sony NEX-C3 will show greater detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots way more aggressively. The newer XZ-2 iHS provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography highlights
46
you can focus manually
features face detect focusing
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
73
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography advice
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography advice
66
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
heavier than others in class (346 grams)
79
screen tilts
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than others (225 grams)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Sports photography camera
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking focus
good battery pack (340 per charge)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
has no phase detect AF
53
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good battery power (400 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography information
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography information
61
good battery pack (340 CIPA)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (346 grams)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
71
good battery power (400 CIPA)
lighter than others (225 grams)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography advice
Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography advice
55
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (340 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
does not have Time Lapse function
70
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (400 per charge)
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging advice
36
rather wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic port
screen isn't selfie friendly
heavier than others in class (346g)
27
lighter than others (225 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony NEX-C3
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSSony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2012-12-18 2011-08-22
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/1.8-2.5 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.60 m (ISO 800) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 346 gr (0.76 pounds) 225 gr (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 49 73
DXO Color Depth rating 20.4 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 12.2
DXO Low light rating 216 1083
Other
Battery life 340 photographs 400 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-90B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $450 $343