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Pentax P70 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Pentax Optio P70 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
57
Features
57
Overall
57

Pentax P70 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Pentax P70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 155g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Released March 2009
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
  • Launched August 2011
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-3
  • Updated by Sony NEX-F3
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Pentax P70 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Pentax P70 versus Sony NEX-C3, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Pentax and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the P70 (12MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) and the P70 (1/2.3") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The P70 was released 3 years prior to the NEX-C3 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a complete comparison, below is a quick overview of how the P70 grades vs the NEX-C3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax P70 over the Sony NEX-C3

 P70 NEX-C3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Pentax P70

 NEX-C3 P70 
LaunchedAugust 2011March 2009More recent by 30 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Pentax P70 and Sony NEX-C3

 P70 NEX-C3 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Pentax P70 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Pentax P70 features physical dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") along with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-C3 has specifications of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check out the Pentax P70 versus Sony NEX-C3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the P70 and the NEX-C3.

Pentax P70 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the P70 and NEX-C3 is 95 and 91 respectively.

Pentax P70 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Pentax P70 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements purely by seeing specifications. The photograph here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the P70 and NEX-C3.

Plainly, both of those cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The P70 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony NEX-C3 will provide more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The older P70 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Pentax P70 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Pentax P70 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax P70 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax P70
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-C3
27
manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
74
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax P70 Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography highlights
47
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (155g)
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors (225 grams)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax P70 Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography factors
17
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,000 seconds)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
53
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great battery pack (400 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax P70 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography highlights
56
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (155 grams)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
great battery pack (400 CIPA)
lighter than competitors (225 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
missing Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax P70 Landscape photography advice
Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography advice
32
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Timelapse function
70
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (400 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax P70 Vlogging information
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging information
25
decently wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (155g)
27
lighter than competitors (225g)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic jack
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Pentax P70 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax P70 and Sony NEX-C3
 Pentax Optio P70Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio P70 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Type Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2009-03-02 2011-08-22
Body design Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-110mm (3.9x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focusing range 10cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.60 m no built-in flash
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (15 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 155g (0.34 lbs) 225g (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") 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 - 400 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $200 $343