Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-C3
63 Imaging
52 Features
52 Overall
52
91 Imaging
56 Features
57 Overall
56
Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs
(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
(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
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).
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideThe 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.
Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-C3 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 and Sony Alpha NEX-C3. The full galleries are available at Sony A500 Gallery and Sony NEX-C3 Gallery.
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | August 2011 | August 2009 | More recent by 24 months | |
Screen resolution | 920k | 230k | Crisper screen (+690k dot) |
Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony NEX-C3
A500 | NEX-C3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | Dial accurate focus | |||
Screen type | Tilting | Tilting | Tilting screen | |
Screen size | 3" | 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.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.
Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A500 and NEX-C3 is 63 and 91 respectively.
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 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Sony A500 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 | Sony 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 |