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Sony A9 II vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
62
Imaging
75
Features
93
Overall
82
Sony Alpha A9 Mark II front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Sony A9 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Sony A9 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Push to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 678g - 129 x 96 x 76mm
  • Introduced October 2019
  • Superseded the Sony A9
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
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-3
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-F3
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Sony A9 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Sony A9 II and Sony NEX-C3, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are manufactured by Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the A9 II (24MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) and the A9 II (Full frame) and NEX-C3 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The A9 II was brought out 8 years later than the NEX-C3 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A9 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a simple summation of how the A9 II grades against the NEX-C3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A9 II over the Sony NEX-C3

 A9 II NEX-C3 
RevealedOctober 2019August 2011More recent by 99 months
Screen resolution1440k920kCrisper screen (+520k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Sony A9 II

 NEX-C3 A9 II 

Common features in the Sony A9 II and Sony NEX-C3

 A9 II NEX-C3 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Sony A9 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony A9 II has physical dimensions of 129mm x 96mm x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs) and the Sony NEX-C3 has dimensions of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Sony A9 II and Sony NEX-C3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the A9 II vs the NEX-C3.

Sony A9 II vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A9 II and NEX-C3 is 62 and 91 respectively.

Sony A9 II vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Sony A9 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to visualise the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading technical specs. The photograph here will help offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A9 II and NEX-C3.

As you have seen, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The A9 II because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony A9 II will deliver extra detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more recent A9 II is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A9 II vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Sony A9 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A9 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A9 II
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-C3
85
focusing manually
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
73
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A9 II Street photography info
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography info
78
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW files
offers touch to focus
environment sealing
good high ISO (51,200)
79
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (225 grams)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A9 II Sports photography features
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography features
87
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
high frames per second (20.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
environment sealing
better than average battery (690 per charge)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
53
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
better than average battery power (400 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony A9 II Travel photography details
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography details
73
better than average battery (690 per charge)
environment sealing
has bluetooth
offers touch to focus
MP count good (24MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
71
better than average battery power (400 per charge)
lighter than competitors in class (225g)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A9 II Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography features
86
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
better than average battery (690 shots)
has dual storage slots
70
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (400 CIPA)
no image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A9 II
Vlogging with Sony NEX-C3
36
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes external microphone jack
doesn't have selfie friendly display
27
lighter than competitors in class (225g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic socket
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Sony A9 II vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A9 II and Sony NEX-C3
 Sony Alpha A9 Mark IISony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha A9 Mark II Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2019-10-03 2011-08-22
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip BIONZ X Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.6 x 23.8mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 847.3mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6000 x 4000 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 51200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 204800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 693 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E Sony E
Amount of lenses 121 121
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,440k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 3,686k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Highest silent shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shooting rate 20.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 678 grams (1.49 lbs) 225 grams (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 129 x 96 x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0") 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 690 images 400 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FZ100 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous, 3 or 5 frames) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Two One
Launch pricing $4,498 $343