Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony W230

The following is a extended review of the Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony W230, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are offered by Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the NEX-C3 (16MP) and W230 (12MP) and the NEX-C3 (APS-C) and W230 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The NEX-C3 was brought out 2 years after the W230 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W230 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple view of how the NEX-C3 grades against the W230 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Alpha NEX-C3 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230. The entire galleries are provided at Sony NEX-C3 Gallery & Sony W230 Gallery.

For those who are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-C3 features external dimensions 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 W230 has dimensions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony W230 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the NEX-C3 against the W230.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-C3 and W230 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Sometimes, it is difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading a spec sheet. The picture below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-C3 and W230.

Clearly, each of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The NEX-C3 because of its bigger sensor will make getting bokeh less difficult and the Sony NEX-C3 will offer greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots much more aggressively. The fresher NEX-C3 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.