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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
69
Overall
61
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
57
Features
57
Overall
57

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Announced October 2011
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-5R
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
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-3
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-F3
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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-C3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and both of them are built by Sony. The image resolution of the NEX-5N (16MP) and the NEX-C3 (16MP) is relatively well matched and they possess the exact same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The NEX-5N was brought out 2 months after the NEX-C3 and they are of a similar age. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a short overview of how the NEX-5N scores versus the NEX-C3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sony NEX-C3

 NEX-5N NEX-C3 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Sony NEX-5N

 NEX-C3 NEX-5N 

Common features in the Sony NEX-5N and Sony NEX-C3

 NEX-5N NEX-C3 
RevealedOctober 2011August 2011Similar age
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Screen resolution920k920kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Sony NEX-5N has got exterior measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Sony NEX-C3 has measurements of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-C3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the NEX-5N versus the NEX-C3.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the NEX-5N and NEX-C3 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions only by checking specifications. The pic here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the NEX-5N and NEX-C3.

To sum up, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same resolution and you can expect similar quality of photos however you might want to factor the launch date of the products into consideration.

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography advice
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography advice
74
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
saves RAW files
74
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony NEX-5N
Street photography with Sony NEX-C3
80
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
has touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (225 grams)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Sports photography features
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography features
58
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good battery (460 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
53
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
better than average battery power (400 shots)
low fps (6.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography advice
71
good battery (460 CIPA)
has touch to focus
good resolution (16MP)
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
71
better than average battery power (400 per charge)
lighter than competitors in class (225g)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Landscape photography camera
71
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
good battery (460 shots)
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
70
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (400 shots)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-5N Vlogging features
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging features
33
touchscreen enabled
supports face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
missing mic socket
27
lighter than competitors in class (225 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic jack
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Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-5N and Sony NEX-C3
 Sony Alpha NEX-5NSony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-5N Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-10-03 2011-08-22
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
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 area 365.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4912 x 3264 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E Sony E
Amount of lenses 121 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269g (0.59 pounds) 225g (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 77 73
DXO Color Depth score 23.6 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 12.2
DXO Low light score 1079 1083
Other
Battery life 460 photographs 400 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NPFW50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $550 $343