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Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81
Sony Alpha A9 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Introduced April 2017
  • Later Model is Sony A9 II
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
  • Launched August 2011
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-3
  • New Model is Sony NEX-F3
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Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Sony A9 versus Sony NEX-C3, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are produced by Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the A9 (24MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) and the A9 (Full frame) and NEX-C3 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The A9 was revealed 5 years later than the NEX-C3 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the A9 matches up versus the NEX-C3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Sony NEX-C3

 A9 NEX-C3 
LaunchedApril 2017August 2011More recent by 69 months
Screen resolution1440k920kSharper screen (+520k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Sony A9

 NEX-C3 A9 

Common features in the Sony A9 and Sony NEX-C3

 A9 NEX-C3 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Sony A9 offers outside measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") and a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs) and the Sony NEX-C3 has specifications of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A9 versus Sony NEX-C3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the A9 compared to the NEX-C3.

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the A9 and NEX-C3 is 65 and 91 respectively.

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor measurements only by viewing technical specs. The graphic underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the A9 and NEX-C3.

As you can tell, each of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The A9 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Sony A9 will provide you with more detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs more aggressively. The more modern A9 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony A9 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography features
83
has manual focus
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
73
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A9 Street photography details
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography details
79
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
offers touch focus
weather sealing
good high ISO (51,200)
79
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than others in class (225g)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A9 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography info
86
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
high frames per second (20.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
good battery power (650 per charge)
sensor has phase detect AF
53
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery life (400 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A9
Travel photography with Sony NEX-C3
73
good battery power (650 shots)
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
offers touch focus
decent MP (24 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
71
great battery life (400 CIPA)
lighter than others in class (225 grams)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A9 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography highlights
85
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
good battery power (650 CIPA)
has dual storage slots
70
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (400 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A9 Vlogging info
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging info
36
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes mic jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
27
lighter than others in class (225 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic port
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Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A9 and Sony NEX-C3
 Sony Alpha A9Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha A9 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2017-04-19 2011-08-22
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 847.3mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6000 x 4000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 51200 12800
Max enhanced ISO 204800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Minimum enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
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
Number of focus points 693 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E Sony E
Total lenses 121 121
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,440 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 3,686 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter speed 20.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 673g (1.48 pounds) 225g (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 92 73
DXO Color Depth score 24.9 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 13.3 12.2
DXO Low light score 3517 1083
Other
Battery life 650 shots 400 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FZ100 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 2 Single
Launch cost $4,498 $343