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Pentax K-01 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61
Pentax K-01 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
57
Features
57
Overall
57

Pentax K-01 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Launched May 2012
Sony NEX-C3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-3
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-F3
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Pentax K-01 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Below, we are matching up the Pentax K-01 vs Sony NEX-C3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the K-01 (16MP) and the NEX-C3 (16MP) is fairly well matched and they possess the exact same sensor size (APS-C).

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The K-01 was announced 10 months later than the NEX-C3 and they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the K-01 grades against the NEX-C3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Sony NEX-C3

 K-01 NEX-C3 
RevealedMay 2012August 2011Fresher by 10 months
Display resolution921k920kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Pentax K-01

 NEX-C3 K-01 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Pentax K-01 and Sony NEX-C3

 K-01 NEX-C3 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Pentax K-01 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Pentax K-01 comes with outside dimensions of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-C3 has sizing of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Look at the Pentax K-01 vs Sony NEX-C3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the K-01 versus the NEX-C3.

Pentax K-01 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the K-01 and NEX-C3 is 76 and 91 respectively.

Pentax K-01 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-01 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to see the gap between sensor sizing merely by checking a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-01 and NEX-C3.

As you can see, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the identical megapixels and you can expect similar quality of photographs but you would want to factor the launch date of the products into consideration. The fresher K-01 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax K-01 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-01 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-01 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-01 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Portrait photography camera
74
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
74
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-01
Street photography with Sony NEX-C3
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
more heavy than others (561 grams)
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition (225 grams)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-01 Sports photography details
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography details
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (540 CIPA)
slow frames per second (6.0 fps)
lack of phase detect autofocus
53
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (400 shots)
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-01
Travel photography with Sony NEX-C3
65
better than average battery pack (540 per charge)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
more heavy than others (561g)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
71
better than average battery pack (400 shots)
lighter than competition (225 grams)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-01 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Landscape photography camera
80
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (540 per charge)
70
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (400 shots)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-01 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging highlights
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone socket
does not have a selfie friendly screen
more heavy than others (561g)
27
lighter than competition (225 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone support
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Pentax K-01 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-01 and Sony NEX-C3
 Pentax K-01Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-01 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-05-30 2011-08-22
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4928 x 3264 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max enhanced ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 Sony E
Total lenses 151 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 921k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 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
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 561 grams (1.24 lb) 225 grams (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 79 73
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.9 12.2
DXO Low light rating 1135 1083
Other
Battery life 540 shots 400 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 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 Single Single
Pricing at release $899 $343