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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony WX500

Portability
91
Imaging
57
Features
57
Overall
57
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony WX500 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
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-3
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-F3
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Revealed April 2015
  • Older Model is Sony WX350
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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony WX500 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Sony NEX-C3 and Sony WX500, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Sony. The image resolution of the NEX-C3 (16MP) and the WX500 (18MP) is fairly similar but the NEX-C3 (APS-C) and WX500 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The NEX-C3 was revealed 4 years earlier than the WX500 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the NEX-C3 scores vs the WX500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Sony WX500

 NEX-C3 WX500 
Manual focus More precise focus

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Sony NEX-C3

 WX500 NEX-C3 
RevealedApril 2015August 2011Fresher by 44 months
Display resolution921k920kSharper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-C3 and Sony WX500

 NEX-C3 WX500 
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony NEX-C3 has outer 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) while the Sony WX500 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Compare the Sony NEX-C3 and Sony WX500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the NEX-C3 vs the WX500.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the NEX-C3 and WX500 is 91 and 91 respectively.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to see the contrast between sensor sizing merely by going over specs. The visual here may offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-C3 and WX500.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The NEX-C3 having a larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Sony WX500 will offer you more detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The older NEX-C3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony NEX-C3
Portrait photography with Sony WX500
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
39
megapixel count good (18MP)
includes face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Street photography camera
80
screen tilts
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than average in class (225 grams)
lack of image stabilization
70
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (236 grams)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony NEX-C3
Sports photography with Sony WX500
53
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good battery power (400 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
57
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (360 CIPA)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography factors
Sony WX500 Travel photography factors
71
good battery power (400 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (225 grams)
good resolution (16MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
71
better than average battery pack (360 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (236g)
megapixel count good (18MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography info
Sony WX500 Landscape photography info
70
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
good battery power (400 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
49
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
better than average battery pack (360 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging features
Sony WX500 Vlogging features
27
lighter than average in class (225 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic jack
35
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (236 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-C3 and Sony WX500
 Sony Alpha NEX-C3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-08-22 2015-04-14
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4912 x 3264 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 225g (0.50 pounds) 236g (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 1083 not tested
Other
Battery life 400 photographs 360 photographs
Battery format 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 shooting
Storage media SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $343 $348