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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony W690

Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony W690 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
  • Announced August 2011
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-3
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-F3
Sony W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Launched February 2012
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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony W690 Overview

Following is a detailed assessment of the Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony W690, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are manufactured by Sony. The sensor resolution of the NEX-C3 (16MP) and the W690 (16MP) is fairly similar but the NEX-C3 (APS-C) and W690 (1/2.3") boast different sensor size.

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The NEX-C3 was announced 6 months earlier than the W690 and they are of a similar age. The two cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W690 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise view of how the NEX-C3 grades versus the W690 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Sony W690

 NEX-C3 W690 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Sony NEX-C3

 W690 NEX-C3 

Common features in the Sony NEX-C3 and Sony W690

 NEX-C3 W690 
LaunchedAugust 2011February 2012Similar age
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony W690 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera regularly, you will have 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") having a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony W690 has specifications of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Look at the Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony W690 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the NEX-C3 compared to the W690.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony W690 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-C3 and W690 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony W690 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony W690 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes only by going over specs. The picture underneath might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-C3 and W690.

As you can plainly see, both cameras feature the identical resolution but different sensor sizes. The NEX-C3 includes the larger sensor which is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony W690 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony W690 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony W690 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography information
Sony W690 Portrait photography information
73
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
34
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Street photography info
Sony W690 Street photography info
79
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than average in class (225g)
does not have image stabilization
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography features
Sony W690 Sports photography features
53
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery life (400 shots)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony NEX-C3
Travel photography with Sony W690
71
good battery life (400 per charge)
lighter than average in class (225g)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
68
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography factors
Sony W690 Landscape photography factors
70
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (400 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
no Timelapse recording
43
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging info
Sony W690 Vlogging info
27
lighter than average in class (225g)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone jack
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic port
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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony W690 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-C3 and Sony W690
 Sony Alpha NEX-C3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-08-22 2012-02-28
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4912 x 3264 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 25 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Xtra Fine LCD ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.30 m
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
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 pounds) 142 gr (0.31 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1083 not tested
Other
Battery life 400 photographs 220 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $343 $297