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Sony A450 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
65
Imaging
54
Features
52
Overall
53
Sony Alpha DSLR-A450 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Sony A450 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Sony A450
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 560g - 137 x 104 x 81mm
  • Announced January 2010
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
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-3
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-F3
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Sony A450 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Sony A450 vs Sony NEX-C3, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both built by Sony. The image resolution of the A450 (14MP) and the NEX-C3 (16MP) is pretty close and they enjoy the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The A450 was announced 19 months before the NEX-C3 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A450 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief summary of how the A450 matches up against the NEX-C3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A450 over the Sony NEX-C3

 A450 NEX-C3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Sony A450

 NEX-C3 A450 
LaunchedAugust 2011January 2010Newer by 19 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Sony A450 and Sony NEX-C3

 A450 NEX-C3 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Sony A450 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Sony A450 provides outer measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.2") having a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-C3 has sizing 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 Sony A450 vs 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 dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the A450 versus the NEX-C3.

Sony A450 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the A450 and NEX-C3 is 65 and 91 respectively.

Sony A450 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Sony A450 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions merely by viewing technical specs. The pic below might give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the A450 and NEX-C3.

As you have seen, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You can expect the Sony NEX-C3 to result in extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged A450 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Sony A450 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Sony A450 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A450 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A450
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-C3
72
has manual focus
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
73
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A450 Street photography details
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography details
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
79
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than others (225 grams)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A450
Sports photography with Sony NEX-C3
77
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good battery pack (1,050 shots)
supports phase detect autofocus
53
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery life (400 shots)
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A450 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography info
60
good battery pack (1,050 shots)
resolution is good (14MP)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
71
better than average battery life (400 shots)
lighter than others (225 grams)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
no Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A450 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Landscape photography camera
66
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
missing Timelapse function
70
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (400 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A450 Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging factors
9
no video recording
27
lighter than others (225g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic socket
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Sony A450 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A450 and Sony NEX-C3
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A450Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A450 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2010-01-05 2011-08-22
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Total lenses 143 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Clear Photo Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Fill, Rear Sync, Slow Sync, Wireless/ High Speed Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
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)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - MPEG-4
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 560 gr (1.23 lb) 225 gr (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 81mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.2") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 66 73
DXO Color Depth score 21.8 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 12.2
DXO Low light score 769 1083
Other
Battery life 1050 images 400 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $1,241 $343