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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A33

Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
 
Sony SLT-A33 front
Portability
67
Imaging
54
Features
80
Overall
64

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A33 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
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-3
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-F3
Sony A33
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed August 2010
  • Replacement is Sony A35
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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A33 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Sony NEX-C3 and Sony A33, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are offered by Sony. The resolution of the NEX-C3 (16MP) and the A33 (14MP) is relatively close and they use the same exact sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The NEX-C3 was introduced 13 months later than the A33 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A33 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the NEX-C3 scores vs the A33 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Sony A33

 NEX-C3 A33 
RevealedAugust 2011August 2010More recent by 13 months

Reasons to pick Sony A33 over the Sony NEX-C3

 A33 NEX-C3 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k920kClearer screen (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony NEX-C3 and Sony A33

 NEX-C3 A33 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A33 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony NEX-C3 enjoys outer measurements of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony A33 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony NEX-C3 and Sony A33 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the NEX-C3 compared to the A33.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A33 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the NEX-C3 and A33 is 91 and 67 respectively.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A33 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A33 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by looking through specifications. The graphic underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-C3 and A33.

Plainly, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Sony NEX-C3 to result in more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The fresher NEX-C3 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A33 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A33 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A33 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography information
Sony A33 Portrait photography information
73
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
72
focusing manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Street photography advice
Sony A33 Street photography advice
79
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (225 grams)
lack of image stabilization
76
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A33 as a Sports photography camera
53
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery power (400 shots)
slow fps (6.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery pack (340 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography factors
Sony A33 Travel photography factors
71
great battery power (400 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (225g)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
61
good resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
missing Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (340 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography details
Sony A33 Landscape photography details
70
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
great battery power (400 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse function
67
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
terrible battery pack (340 CIPA)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony NEX-C3
Vlogging with Sony A33
27
lighter than competition in class (225 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic port
77
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone support
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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A33 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-C3 and Sony A33
 Sony Alpha NEX-C3Sony SLT-A33
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Sony SLT-A33
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-08-22 2010-08-24
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4912 x 3264 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 25 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 121 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 920k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 225 gr (0.50 lb) 500 gr (1.10 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 70
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 12.6
DXO Low light rating 1083 591
Other
Battery life 400 pictures 340 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $343 $230