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Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced August 2009
  • Refreshed by Sony A560
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
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-3
  • Successor is Sony NEX-F3
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Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-C3, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are produced by Sony. There exists a big gap between the resolutions of the A500 (12MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor size (APS-C).

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The A500 was unveiled 24 months before the NEX-C3 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the A500 grades against the NEX-C3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony NEX-C3

 A500 NEX-C3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Sony A500

 NEX-C3 A500 
IntroducedAugust 2011August 2009More recent by 24 months
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony NEX-C3

 A500 NEX-C3 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Sony A500 comes with outer dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Sony NEX-C3 has sizing 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 A500 vs Sony NEX-C3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the A500 against the NEX-C3.

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A500 and NEX-C3 is 63 and 91 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to picture the difference between sensor measurements merely by looking at specs. The graphic below will provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A500 and NEX-C3.

All in all, both cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You should expect the Sony NEX-C3 to resolve greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs way more aggressively. The older A500 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 Portrait photography advice
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography advice
63
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files
low MP (12MP)
73
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Street photography camera
74
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
79
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than average in class (225 grams)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography info
51
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (520 CIPA)
53
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery pack (400 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Travel photography camera
43
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (520 shots)
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
71
good battery pack (400 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (225g)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 Landscape photography advice
Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography advice
60
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery (520 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
70
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (400 per charge)
no image stabilization
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A500 Vlogging features
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging features
9
can't record video
27
lighter than average in class (225 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
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Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony NEX-C3
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2009-08-27 2011-08-22
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4272 x 2848 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Amount of lenses 143 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s 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 None 1280x720
Video format - MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 630g (1.39 lb) 225g (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 64 73
DXO Color Depth rating 21.8 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 12.2
DXO Low light rating 772 1083
Other
Battery life 520 photos 400 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 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
Retail pricing $638 $343