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Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Released March 2011
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
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-F3
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Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Sony NEX-C3

 RS1500 NEX-C3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Pentax RS1500

 NEX-C3 RS1500 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Pentax RS1500 and Sony NEX-C3

 RS1500 NEX-C3 
LaunchedMarch 2011August 2011Similar generation
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

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

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

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.

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography information
35
focusing manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
73
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Street photography advice
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography advice
54
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
79
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (225 grams)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Sports photography details
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography details
37
decent megapixels (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
53
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery pack (400 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax RS1500
Travel photography with Sony NEX-C3
67
environment proofing
decent megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
71
good battery pack (400 shots)
lighter than competition in class (225 grams)
MP count good (16MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography features
40
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
environment proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
70
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (400 per charge)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging factors
25
pretty wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone support
27
lighter than competition in class (225 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Pentax RS1500 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RS1500 and Sony NEX-C3
 Pentax Optio RS1500Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio RS1500 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-03-16 2011-08-22
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-110mm (3.9x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.90 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 157 grams (0.35 pounds) 225 grams (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 1083
Other
Battery life 260 shots 400 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $150 $343