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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
66
Imaging
41
Features
37
Overall
39
Pentax XG-1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
57
Features
57
Overall
57

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Pentax XG-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1248mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 567g - 119 x 89 x 98mm
  • Introduced July 2014
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
  • Announced August 2011
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-3
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-F3
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

The following is a extended analysis of the Pentax XG-1 vs Sony NEX-C3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the XG-1 (16MP) and the NEX-C3 (16MP) is very comparable but the XG-1 (1/2.3") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor size.

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The XG-1 was brought out 2 years after the NEX-C3 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the XG-1 grades against the NEX-C3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Sony NEX-C3

 XG-1 NEX-C3 
AnnouncedJuly 2014August 2011Newer by 36 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Pentax XG-1

 NEX-C3 XG-1 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Pentax XG-1 and Sony NEX-C3

 XG-1 NEX-C3 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Pentax XG-1 has external measurements of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") along with a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) while the Sony NEX-C3 has measurements of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax XG-1 vs Sony NEX-C3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at the time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the XG-1 versus the NEX-C3.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the XG-1 and NEX-C3 is 66 and 91 respectively.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions simply by going through specs. The image below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the XG-1 and NEX-C3.

All in all, both of those cameras come with the identical MP but not the same sensor dimensions. The XG-1 includes the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow DOF harder. The younger XG-1 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography features
40
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
74
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax XG-1
Street photography with Sony NEX-C3
43
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
heavier than average (567 grams)
80
tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than others (225g)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography features
45
excellent zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (240 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
53
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery (400 CIPA)
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography advice
52
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (1248mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (240 shots)
heavier than average (567 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
good battery (400 shots)
lighter than others (225g)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax XG-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Landscape photography camera
45
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
low battery pack (240 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
70
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
good battery (400 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging factors
25
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
does not have mic socket
heavier than average (567 grams)
27
lighter than others (225g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone jack
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax XG-1 and Sony NEX-C3
 Pentax XG-1Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax XG-1 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2014-07-15 2011-08-22
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 24-1248mm (52.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.6 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 200 thousand dot -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (120 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 567 grams (1.25 lb) 225 grams (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 240 photos 400 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LB-060 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $599 $343