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Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
68
Imaging
53
Features
54
Overall
53
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released August 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A350
  • Later Model is Sony A390
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
  • Announced August 2011
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-3
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-F3
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Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Following is a comprehensive review of the Sony A380 versus Sony NEX-C3, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both designed by Sony. The image resolution of the A380 (14MP) and the NEX-C3 (16MP) is relatively close and both cameras boast the same sensor size (APS-C).

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The A380 was introduced 24 months earlier than the NEX-C3 which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a thorough comparison, here is a concise overview of how the A380 matches up against the NEX-C3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Sony NEX-C3

 A380 NEX-C3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Sony A380

 NEX-C3 A380 
AnnouncedAugust 2011August 2009More modern by 24 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Sony A380 and Sony NEX-C3

 A380 NEX-C3 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Sony A380 has got outer measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-C3 has specifications of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check out the Sony A380 versus Sony NEX-C3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the A380 vs the NEX-C3.

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the A380 and NEX-C3 is 68 and 91 respectively.

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizes simply by looking through technical specs. The pic here will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A380 and NEX-C3.

As you have seen, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Sony NEX-C3 to provide you with extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged A380 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A380 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography information
71
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A380
Street photography with Sony NEX-C3
76
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
79
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than competitors (225g)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A380 Sports photography advice
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography advice
59
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
bad battery life (500 per charge)
53
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (400 shots)
max frames per second low (6.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A380
Travel photography with Sony NEX-C3
53
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery life (500 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
71
better than average battery pack (400 CIPA)
lighter than competitors (225 grams)
good megapixels (16MP)
missing Timelapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A380 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Landscape photography camera
61
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
bad battery life (500 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
70
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (400 shots)
does not have image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A380
Vlogging with Sony NEX-C3
9
no video shooting
27
lighter than competitors (225 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone socket
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Sony A380 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A380 and Sony NEX-C3
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A380Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2009-08-24 2011-08-22
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 372.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3056 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Total lenses 143 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 519g (1.14 pounds) 225g (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 67 73
DXO Color Depth score 22.6 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 12.2
DXO Low light score 614 1083
Other
Battery life 500 photos 400 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at release $899 $343