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Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59
Sony Alpha A3000 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Sony A3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Introduced August 2013
  • Replacement is Sony a3500
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
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-3
  • New Model is Sony NEX-F3
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Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Sony A3000 versus Sony NEX-C3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and they are both sold by Sony. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the A3000 (20MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The A3000 was revealed 2 years later than the NEX-C3 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Sony A3000 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the A3000 scores vs the NEX-C3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A3000 over the Sony NEX-C3

 A3000 NEX-C3 
RevealedAugust 2013August 2011Fresher by 25 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Sony A3000

 NEX-C3 A3000 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Sony A3000 and Sony NEX-C3

 A3000 NEX-C3 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony A3000 features outer dimensions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Sony NEX-C3 has proportions of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check out the Sony A3000 versus Sony NEX-C3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the A3000 and the NEX-C3.

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the A3000 and NEX-C3 is 69 and 91 respectively.

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizing only by seeing specs. The photograph below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A3000 and NEX-C3.

All in all, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can expect to see the Sony A3000 to produce more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The newer A3000 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A3000 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Portrait photography camera
77
you can focus manually
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files
73
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Sony A3000 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Street photography camera
57
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
heavier than others in class (411g)
79
screen tilts
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than average in class (225g)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A3000 Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography factors
60
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
great battery (470 shots)
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
53
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery life (400 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A3000 Travel photography features
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography features
60
great battery (470 per charge)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others in class (411 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
71
better than average battery life (400 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (225g)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A3000 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography factors
70
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
great battery (470 CIPA)
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
70
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (400 shots)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A3000 Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging factors
26
provides face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have mic port
heavier than others in class (411 grams)
27
lighter than average in class (225g)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Sony A3000 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A3000 and Sony NEX-C3
 Sony Alpha A3000Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha A3000 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2013-08-27 2011-08-22
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by BIONZ image Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5456 x 3632 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 16000 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E Sony E
Number of lenses 121 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.47x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync. Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, H.264, MP4 MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 411 gr (0.91 pounds) 225 gr (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 78 73
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.8 12.2
DXO Low light rating 1068 1083
Other
Battery life 470 pictures 400 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FW50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage - SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $398 $343