Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX10

Below, we are matching up the Sony NEX-C3 and Sony RX10, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom and both are produced by Sony. The sensor resolution of the NEX-C3 (16MP) and the RX10 (20MP) is fairly well matched but the NEX-C3 (APS-C) and RX10 (1") possess different sensor size.

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The NEX-C3 was revealed 3 years prior to the RX10 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX10 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the NEX-C3 matches up vs the RX10 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha NEX-C3 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10. The full galleries are viewable at Sony NEX-C3 Gallery and Sony RX10 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Sony NEX-C3 comes with outside 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) while the Sony RX10 has measurements of 129mm x 88mm x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0") with a weight of 813 grams (1.79 lbs).

Compare the Sony NEX-C3 and Sony RX10 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the NEX-C3 against the RX10.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the NEX-C3 and RX10 is 91 and 58 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements only by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph here should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-C3 and RX10.

Clearly, the two cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The NEX-C3 having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony RX10 will give you more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older NEX-C3 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.