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Pentax K-3 II vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 II front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Released April 2015
  • Replaced the Pentax K-3
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
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-3
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-F3
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Pentax K-3 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Pentax K-3 II and Sony NEX-C3, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Pentax and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the K-3 II (24MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The K-3 II was brought out 3 years after the NEX-C3 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a short highlight of how the K-3 II scores versus the NEX-C3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Sony NEX-C3

 K-3 II NEX-C3 
IntroducedApril 2015August 2011More modern by 45 months
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k920kSharper display (+117k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Pentax K-3 II

 NEX-C3 K-3 II 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Pentax K-3 II and Sony NEX-C3

 K-3 II NEX-C3 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and size. The Pentax K-3 II offers outer measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-C3 has specifications of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

See the Pentax K-3 II and Sony NEX-C3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the K-3 II versus the NEX-C3.

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the K-3 II and NEX-C3 is 59 and 91 respectively.

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizes purely by checking out technical specs. The image here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the K-3 II and NEX-C3.

As you have seen, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Pentax K-3 II to produce extra detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The fresher K-3 II should have an edge in sensor technology.

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 II as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Portrait photography camera
79
has manual focus
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Street photography info
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography info
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
very good high ISO (51,200)
no articulating screen
79
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than others (225g)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Sports photography info
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography info
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery life (720 per charge)
53
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery (400 shots)
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Travel photography features
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography features
56
weather proof
resolution is good (24MP)
not so great battery life (720 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
71
great battery (400 CIPA)
lighter than others (225g)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography details
Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography details
78
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
has double storage slots
not so great battery life (720 shots)
70
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
great battery (400 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-3 II
Vlogging with Sony NEX-C3
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone port
display isn't selfie friendly
27
lighter than others (225 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone port
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Pentax K-3 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 II and Sony NEX-C3
 Pentax K-3 IISony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-3 II Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2015-04-23 2011-08-22
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime III Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 6016 x 4000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 51200 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 27 25
Cross type focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 Sony E
Total lenses 151 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3.2 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 8.3fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 gr (1.76 pounds) 225 gr (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 80 73
DXO Color Depth rating 23.6 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.6 12.2
DXO Low light rating 1106 1083
Other
Battery life 720 photographs 400 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 NPFW50
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 2 One
Price at launch $829 $343