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Pentax X-5 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
65
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Pentax X-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Pentax X-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-580mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 595g - 119 x 86 x 107mm
  • Revealed August 2012
Sony NEX-C3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Previous Model is Sony NEX-3
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-F3
Photography Glossary

Pentax X-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Pentax X-5 versus Sony NEX-C3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the X-5 (16MP) and the NEX-C3 (16MP) is relatively close but the X-5 (1/2.3") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The X-5 was manufactured 13 months after the NEX-C3 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short summation of how the X-5 scores against the NEX-C3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sony NEX-C3

 X-5 NEX-C3 
IntroducedAugust 2012August 2011Newer by 13 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Pentax X-5

 NEX-C3 X-5 
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sony NEX-C3

 X-5 NEX-C3 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Pentax X-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Pentax X-5 provides exterior measurements of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") along with a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-C3 has sizing of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax X-5 versus Sony NEX-C3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the X-5 and the NEX-C3.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the X-5 and NEX-C3 is 65 and 91 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions just by looking through a spec sheet. The pic here will provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the X-5 and NEX-C3.

As you can see, both the cameras enjoy the same exact megapixel count albeit different sensor dimensions. The X-5 offers the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow depth of field more challenging. The younger X-5 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax X-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X-5 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography highlights
43
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides face detect autofocus
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
73
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 Street photography information
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography information
50
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than competitors in class (595g)
79
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than others (225 grams)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X-5 Sports photography details
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography details
52
incredible zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
53
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good battery pack (400 CIPA)
max fps low (6.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography advice
53
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (22mm)
great zoom (580mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors in class (595 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
71
good battery pack (400 shots)
lighter than others (225 grams)
good resolution (16MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 Landscape photography information
Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography information
47
has manual focus
relatively wide (22mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
70
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (400 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X-5 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging highlights
26
relatively wide (22mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic jack
heavier than competitors in class (595 grams)
27
lighter than others (225 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic socket
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Pentax X-5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sony NEX-C3
 Pentax X-5Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax X-5 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-08-22 2011-08-22
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 22-580mm (26.4x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 230k dots -
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.10 m no built-in flash
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 595 gr (1.31 lbs) 225 gr (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 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 330 photos 400 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail price $230 $343