Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-C3

Below is a thorough review of the Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-C3, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the RS1500 (14MP) and the NEX-C3 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the RS1500 (1/2.3") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The RS1500 was manufactured 5 months earlier than the NEX-C3 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the RS1500 grades versus the NEX-C3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax Optio RS1500 and Sony Alpha NEX-C3. The entire galleries are available at Pentax RS1500 Gallery and Sony NEX-C3 Gallery.

If you are going to lug around your camera, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Pentax RS1500 features physical dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony NEX-C3 has specifications of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check out the Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-C3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the RS1500 against the NEX-C3.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the RS1500 and NEX-C3 is 93 and 91 respectively.

Usually, it can be difficult to see the gap between sensor measurements only by reading through a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the RS1500 and NEX-C3.

Clearly, both of those cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The RS1500 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony NEX-C3 will give you greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos more aggressively.