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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A58

Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
 
Sony SLT-A58 front
Portability
68
Imaging
62
Features
72
Overall
66

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A58 Key Specs

Sony NEX-C3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
  • Announced August 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-3
  • New Model is Sony NEX-F3
Sony A58
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 492g - 129 x 95 x 78mm
  • Released November 2013
  • Older Model is Sony A57
Photography Glossary

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A58 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A58, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are designed by Sony. The image resolution of the NEX-C3 (16MP) and the A58 (20MP) is pretty similar and both cameras boast the same sensor size (APS-C).

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The NEX-C3 was announced 3 years prior to the A58 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A58 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the NEX-C3 scores against the A58 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Sony A58

 NEX-C3 A58 
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k460kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A58 over the Sony NEX-C3

 A58 NEX-C3 
ReleasedNovember 2013August 2011Fresher by 27 months

Common features in the Sony NEX-C3 and Sony A58

 NEX-C3 A58 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A58 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-C3 has got outside measurements of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony A58 has dimensions of 129mm x 95mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1") along with a weight of 492 grams (1.08 lbs).

Check out the Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A58 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the NEX-C3 vs the A58.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A58 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-C3 and A58 is 91 and 68 respectively.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A58 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A58 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizing simply by going over specifications. The photograph underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-C3 and A58.

Plainly, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can expect the Sony A58 to deliver greater detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older NEX-C3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A58 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A58 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A58 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography features
Sony A58 Portrait photography features
73
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
77
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Street photography details
Sony A58 Street photography details
79
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (225g)
no image stabilization
78
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography advice
Sony A58 Sports photography advice
53
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery power (400 CIPA)
low frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
81
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
better than average battery life (690 CIPA)
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography advice
Sony A58 Travel photography advice
71
good battery power (400 shots)
lighter than competitors in class (225g)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
63
better than average battery life (690 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A58 as a Landscape photography camera
70
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (400 per charge)
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
70
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (690 CIPA)
small screen (2.7 inch)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-C3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A58 as a Vlogging camera
27
lighter than competitors in class (225 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic port
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic port
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony A58 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-C3 and Sony A58
 Sony Alpha NEX-C3Sony SLT-A58
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Sony SLT-A58
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-08-22 2013-11-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4912 x 3264 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 12800 16000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 25 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 121 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.6
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 920k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.65x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 225 grams (0.50 lb) 492 grams (1.08 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 129 x 95 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 73 74
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 23.3
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 12.5
DXO Low light score 1083 753
Other
Battery life 400 photos 690 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NPFW50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images) -
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $343 $645