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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A55

Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A55 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
  • Launched August 2011
  • Previous Model is Sony NEX-3
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-F3
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched August 2010
  • Successor is Sony A57
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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A55 Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Sony NEX-C3 versus Sony A55, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are built by Sony. The resolution of the NEX-C3 (16MP) and the A55 (16MP) is very comparable and both cameras posses the identical sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The NEX-C3 was brought out 13 months after the A55 making them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a complete comparison, here is a short highlight of how the NEX-C3 matches up against the A55 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Sony A55

 NEX-C3 A55 
LaunchedAugust 2011August 2010More modern by 13 months

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony NEX-C3

 A55 NEX-C3 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution921k920kCrisper display (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony NEX-C3 and Sony A55

 NEX-C3 A55 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Touch display No Touch display

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony NEX-C3 features 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) whilst the Sony A55 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Sony NEX-C3 versus Sony A55 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the NEX-C3 against the A55.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the NEX-C3 and A55 is 91 and 67 respectively.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizes simply by seeing technical specs. The pic below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-C3 and A55.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same resolution therefore you should expect comparable quality of images however you need to take the release date of the cameras into account. The fresher NEX-C3 provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography info
Sony A55 Portrait photography info
73
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
73
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony NEX-C3
Street photography with Sony A55
79
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than others (225g)
no image stabilization
77
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography information
Sony A55 Sports photography information
53
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good battery life (400 shots)
low fps (6.0 fps)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
bad battery life (380 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography details
Sony A55 Travel photography details
71
good battery life (400 shots)
lighter than others (225g)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
does not posses selfie friendly display
62
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery life (380 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography information
Sony A55 Landscape photography information
70
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3")
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (400 per charge)
no image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
67
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
bad battery life (380 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging details
Sony A55 Vlogging details
27
lighter than others (225 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone socket
78
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone jack
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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-C3 and Sony A55
 Sony Alpha NEX-C3Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Sony SLT-A55
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-08-22 2010-08-24
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 365.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4912 x 3264 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 25 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 121 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
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 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 225g (0.50 pounds) 500g (1.10 pounds)
Physical 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 score 73 73
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 12.4
DXO Low light score 1083 816
Other
Battery life 400 pictures 380 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 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 media SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $343 $800