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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX1R II

Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II front
Portability
78
Imaging
76
Features
65
Overall
71

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX1R II 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
  • Released August 2011
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-3
  • Updated by Sony NEX-F3
Sony RX1R II
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 50 - 25600 (Push to 102400)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0) lens
  • 507g - 113 x 65 x 72mm
  • Revealed October 2015
  • Succeeded the Sony RX1R
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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX1R II Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Sony NEX-C3 and Sony RX1R II, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both are sold by Sony. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the NEX-C3 (16MP) and RX1R II (42MP) and the NEX-C3 (APS-C) and RX1R II (Full frame) come with different sensor sizes.

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The NEX-C3 was revealed 5 years prior to the RX1R II which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX1R II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a quick overview of how the NEX-C3 grades vs the RX1R II with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Sony RX1R II

 NEX-C3 RX1R II 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1R II over the Sony NEX-C3

 RX1R II NEX-C3 
RevealedOctober 2015August 2011More modern by 50 months
Display resolution1229k920kSharper display (+309k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-C3 and Sony RX1R II

 NEX-C3 RX1R II 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX1R II Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Sony NEX-C3 has outside dimensions of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony RX1R II has specifications of 113mm x 65mm x 72mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 507 grams (1.12 lbs).

Contrast the Sony NEX-C3 and Sony RX1R II in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the NEX-C3 against the RX1R II.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX1R II size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-C3 and RX1R II is 91 and 78 respectively.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX1R II top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX1R II Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to picture the gap in sensor sizes purely by seeing technical specs. The pic below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-C3 and RX1R II.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The NEX-C3 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony RX1R II will show extra detail because of its extra 26 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged NEX-C3 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX1R II sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX1R II Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX1R II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony NEX-C3
Portrait photography with Sony RX1R II
73
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
85
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/4,000s)
sensor resolution is excellent (42 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony NEX-C3
Street photography with Sony RX1R II
79
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than others in class (225g)
lack of image stabilization
73
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
very good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (507 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography info
Sony RX1R II Sports photography info
53
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery (400 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
63
sensor resolution is excellent (42 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features tracking focus
has phase detect AF
fixed focal length (35mm)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery (220 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography features
Sony RX1R II Travel photography features
71
better than average battery (400 per charge)
lighter than others in class (225 grams)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
59
sensor resolution is excellent (42MP)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery (220 shots)
heavier than competition in class (507g)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony NEX-C3
Landscape photography with Sony RX1R II
70
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (400 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
68
you can focus manually
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inch)
sensor resolution is excellent (42 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery (220 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging advice
Sony RX1R II Vlogging advice
27
lighter than others in class (225g)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic port
34
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic port
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (507g)
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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony RX1R II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-C3 and Sony RX1R II
 Sony Alpha NEX-C3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Released 2011-08-22 2015-10-13
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz BIONZ X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 42 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4912 x 3264 7952 x 5304
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Max boosted ISO - 102400
Min native ISO 100 50
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35mm (1x)
Highest aperture - f/2.0
Macro focusing distance - 14cm
Available lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Off, auto, fill flash, slow sync, rear sync, wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s 1/4000s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (120p, 30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 225 gr (0.50 lb) 507 gr (1.12 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 113 x 65 x 72mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 97
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 25.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 13.9
DXO Low light rating 1083 3204
Other
Battery life 400 photos 220 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 (2,5, 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $343 $3,300