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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

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
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-3
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-F3
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Revealed July 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX10V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX30V
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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Lets look closer at the Sony NEX-C3 and Sony HX20V, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are built by Sony. The sensor resolution of the NEX-C3 (16MP) and the HX20V (18MP) is fairly similar but the NEX-C3 (APS-C) and HX20V (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The NEX-C3 was launched 11 months prior to the HX20V and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the NEX-C3 grades versus the HX20V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Sony HX20V

 NEX-C3 HX20V 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Sony NEX-C3

 HX20V NEX-C3 
RevealedJuly 2012August 2011More recent by 11 months
Display resolution922k920kClearer display (+2k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-C3 and Sony HX20V

 NEX-C3 HX20V 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony NEX-C3 features outside dimensions of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony HX20V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Contrast the Sony NEX-C3 and Sony HX20V in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the NEX-C3 vs the HX20V.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the NEX-C3 and HX20V is 91 and 90 respectively.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to see the gap between sensor measurements purely by going over specifications. The photograph below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-C3 and HX20V.

To sum up, the two cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The NEX-C3 due to its larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Sony HX20V will deliver extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The older NEX-C3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography details
Sony HX20V Portrait photography details
73
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
45
has manual focus
good MP (18 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Street photography camera
79
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (225 grams)
lack of image stabilization
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony NEX-C3
Sports photography with Sony HX20V
53
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great battery power (400 per charge)
max fps low (6.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography info
Sony HX20V Travel photography info
71
great battery power (400 shots)
lighter than competition (225g)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition in class (254g)
good MP (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX20V Landscape photography advice
70
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (400 shots)
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
50
has manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX20V as a Vlogging camera
27
lighter than competition (225 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone socket
34
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
display is not selfie friendly
missing mic jack
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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-C3 and Sony HX20V
 Sony Alpha NEX-C3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-08-22 2012-07-20
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4912 x 3264 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 920k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Xtra Fine LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 225 gr (0.50 lbs) 254 gr (0.56 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1083 not tested
Other
Battery life 400 photographs 320 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $343 $397