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Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Released April 2010
Sony NEX-C3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-3
  • New Model is Sony NEX-F3
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Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Sony A850 and Sony NEX-C3, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are designed by Sony. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the A850 (25MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) and the A850 (Full frame) and NEX-C3 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A850 was announced 16 months before the NEX-C3 making them a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the A850 matches up vs the NEX-C3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Sony NEX-C3

 A850 NEX-C3 
Display resolution922k920kSharper display (+2k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Sony A850

 NEX-C3 A850 
IntroducedAugust 2011April 2010Fresher by 16 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Sony A850 and Sony NEX-C3

 A850 NEX-C3 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony A850 comes with external measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-C3 has dimensions of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Sony A850 and Sony NEX-C3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the A850 against the NEX-C3.

Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the A850 and NEX-C3 is 54 and 91 respectively.

Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reading specs. The graphic here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the A850 and NEX-C3.

All in all, each of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The A850 using its larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony A850 will deliver greater detail with its extra 9MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older A850 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A850
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-C3
72
has manual focus
megapixel count great (25 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
73
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A850 Street photography details
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography details
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
fixed screen
79
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (225 grams)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A850 Sports photography information
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography information
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count great (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF
does not have liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
53
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery power (400 shots)
max fps very slow (6.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A850 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography advice
55
weather proofing
megapixel count great (25 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
does not have selfie friendly screen
71
better than average battery power (400 per charge)
lighter than competition (225 grams)
good MP (16 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A850
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-C3
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count great (25 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
does not have liveview
does not have Time Lapse function
70
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (400 shots)
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A850 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging advice
9
lack of video recording
27
lighter than competition (225 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic jack
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Sony A850 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A850 and Sony NEX-C3
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2010-04-15 2011-08-22
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 861.6mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 25 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6048 x 4032 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Total lenses 143 121
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 922 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Xtra Fine color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 895g (1.97 lbs) 225g (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 79 73
DXO Color Depth rating 23.8 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 12.2
DXO Low light rating 1415 1083
Other
Battery life 880 images 400 images
Battery format 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 shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 2 Single
Retail pricing $0 $343