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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 VII

Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII front
Portability
88
Imaging
54
Features
78
Overall
63

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 VII Key Specs

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
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-3
  • Updated by Sony NEX-F3
Sony RX100 VII
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 302g - 102 x 58 x 43mm
  • Released July 2019
  • Replaced the Sony RX100 VI
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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 VII Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Sony NEX-C3 versus Sony RX100 VII, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both sold by Sony. The sensor resolution of the NEX-C3 (16MP) and the RX100 VII (20MP) is pretty comparable but the NEX-C3 (APS-C) and RX100 VII (1") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The NEX-C3 was launched 9 years before the RX100 VII and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 VII being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the NEX-C3 matches up vs the RX100 VII for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

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

 NEX-C3 RX100 VII 

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

 RX100 VII NEX-C3 
ReleasedJuly 2019August 2011More recent by 96 months
Screen resolution921k920kClearer screen (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

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

 NEX-C3 RX100 VII 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 VII Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-C3 offers exterior measurements of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 VII has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 302 grams (0.67 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony NEX-C3 versus Sony RX100 VII in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the NEX-C3 versus the RX100 VII.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 VII size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-C3 and RX100 VII is 91 and 88 respectively.

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

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 VII Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements purely by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph below might give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the NEX-C3 and RX100 VII.

As you can see, each of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The NEX-C3 featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony RX100 VII will produce more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older NEX-C3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 VII sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 VII Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography features
Sony RX100 VII Portrait photography features
73
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
66
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
features face detection focusing
exports RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Street photography advice
Sony RX100 VII Street photography advice
79
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (225 grams)
does not have image stabilization
85
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
comes with touch focus
lighter than competitors (302g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 VII as a Sports photography camera
53
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery life (400 CIPA)
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
70
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (20.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
features tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
terrible battery power (260 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography features
Sony RX100 VII Travel photography features
71
better than average battery life (400 per charge)
lighter than competitors in class (225g)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
77
lighter than competitors (302g)
connects via bluetooth
comes with touch focus
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
really wide (24mm)
terrible battery power (260 CIPA)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 VII as a Landscape photography camera
70
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (400 shots)
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
65
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
terrible battery power (260 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 VII as a Vlogging camera
27
lighter than competitors in class (225g)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic socket
81
really wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have external mic jack
lighter than competitors (302 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX100 VII Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-C3 and Sony RX100 VII
 Sony Alpha NEX-C3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-08-22 2019-07-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4912 x 3264 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-200mm (8.3x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-4.5
Macro focus distance - 8cm
Amount of lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 2.7
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per second 20.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.90 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 225g (0.50 lb) 302g (0.67 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 63
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 12.4
DXO Low light score 1083 418
Other
Battery life 400 shots 260 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NPFW50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $343 $1,298