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Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Samsung HZ30W front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Samsung HZ30W
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-360mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 245g - 107 x 61 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Alternate Name is WB600
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
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-3
  • Successor is Sony NEX-F3
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Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Samsung HZ30W and Sony NEX-C3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the HZ30W (12MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) and the HZ30W (1/2.3") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizes.

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The HZ30W was brought out 19 months before the NEX-C3 making them a generation apart from one another. The two cameras feature different body design with the Samsung HZ30W being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the HZ30W grades vs the NEX-C3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ30W over the Sony NEX-C3

 HZ30W NEX-C3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Samsung HZ30W

 NEX-C3 HZ30W 
LaunchedAugust 2011January 2010Fresher by 19 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Samsung HZ30W and Sony NEX-C3

 HZ30W NEX-C3 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Samsung HZ30W features outer dimensions of 107mm x 61mm x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-C3 has dimensions of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Examine the Samsung HZ30W and Sony NEX-C3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the HZ30W versus the NEX-C3.

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the HZ30W and NEX-C3 is 91 and 91 respectively.

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading through specs. The graphic here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the HZ30W and NEX-C3.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The HZ30W featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony NEX-C3 will give you more detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older HZ30W is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography information
29
you can focus manually
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
73
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography highlights
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (245g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
79
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition in class (225g)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Sports photography details
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography details
42
long zoom range (24-360mm 15.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
53
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
better than average battery life (400 shots)
max fps low (6.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ30W as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Travel photography camera
63
lighter than average in class (245 grams)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (360mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
71
better than average battery life (400 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (225 grams)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography features
43
you can focus manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
70
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (400 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Vlogging information
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging information
30
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (245 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic support
27
lighter than competition in class (225g)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone jack
Photography Glossary

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ30W and Sony NEX-C3
 Samsung HZ30WSony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model Samsung HZ30W Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Also Known as WB600 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2010-01-19 2011-08-22
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
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 24-360mm (15.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.2-5.8 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 16 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 245g (0.54 lb) 225g (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 107 x 61 x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" 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 - 400 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-11A NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double, Motion) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SC/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch price $280 $343