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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 II

Portability
91
Imaging
57
Features
57
Overall
57
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
74
Overall
60

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 II 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
  • Released August 2011
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-3
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-F3
Sony RX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 281g - 102 x 58 x 38mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX100
  • Later Model is Sony RX100 III
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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 II Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Sony NEX-C3 versus Sony RX100 II, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Sony. The sensor resolution of the NEX-C3 (16MP) and the RX100 II (20MP) is fairly similar but the NEX-C3 (APS-C) and RX100 II (1") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The NEX-C3 was manufactured 22 months before the RX100 II making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the NEX-C3 matches up versus the RX100 II in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Sony RX100 II

 NEX-C3 RX100 II 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 II over the Sony NEX-C3

 RX100 II NEX-C3 
LaunchedJune 2013August 2011More recent by 22 months
Display resolution1229k920kCrisper display (+309k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-C3 and Sony RX100 II

 NEX-C3 RX100 II 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 II Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Sony NEX-C3 offers physical 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) whilst the Sony RX100 II has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check out the Sony NEX-C3 versus Sony RX100 II in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the NEX-C3 vs the RX100 II.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 II size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the NEX-C3 and RX100 II is 91 and 89 respectively.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 II top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to visualise the gap between sensor measurements purely by going over a spec sheet. The visual here might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-C3 and RX100 II.

Clearly, both of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The NEX-C3 featuring a larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Sony RX100 II will deliver more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older NEX-C3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 II sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography advice
Sony RX100 II Portrait photography advice
74
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
70
has manual focus
high flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony NEX-C3
Street photography with Sony RX100 II
80
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition in class (225g)
does not have image stabilization
85
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (281 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 II as a Sports photography camera
53
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great battery (400 per charge)
slow frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
67
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
has tracking focus
good battery pack (350 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography details
Sony RX100 II Travel photography details
71
great battery (400 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (225g)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
80
good battery pack (350 shots)
lighter than competition in class (281 grams)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography information
Sony RX100 II Landscape photography information
70
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3")
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
great battery (400 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
74
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (350 shots)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging advice
Sony RX100 II Vlogging advice
27
lighter than competition in class (225 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone port
37
relatively wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (281 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone socket
Photography Glossary

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-C3 and Sony RX100 II
 Sony Alpha NEX-C3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Released 2011-08-22 2013-06-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4912 x 3264 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 2.7
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Xtra Fine LCD Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
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 225 gr (0.50 pounds) 281 gr (0.62 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 67
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 12.4
DXO Low light rating 1083 483
Other
Battery life 400 photos 350 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images) Yes (10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $343 $598