Sony NEX-C3 Concise Review ~ Digital Photography Review

Review based on a production NEX-C3 with firmware 01

The NEX-C3 is the first of Sony's second growth of mirrorless camcorders, following the release of the 14MP NEX-3 and NEX-5 in mid-2010. If these first two designs revealed how dedicated Panasonic is to providing APS-C capabilities in a lightweight type factor, the factor is underlined by the overall look of the still-smaller C3.

Sony is one of the organizations with most to obtain from a comprehensive applying of mirrorless camcorders. The inroads it developed into the traditional DSLR market were quite regular in assessment to its dreams, and there's clearly an probability to merge its in-house capabilities from its Cyber-shot compacts with the similar relationships know-how it obtained when it purchased Konica Minolta, coming back in 2006.

The NEX-C3, even more than its precursor, underlines the organization's wish to provide this combination of lightweight picture photo photographic camera pleasure with large indication picture amazing. Despite its bigger indication, the C3 problems the tiniest Little Four Thirds designs with regards to measurement, with only its kit zoom capability ability capability decreasing its compactness.

The big information, beyond the NEX-C3's reduced measurement, is the inclusion of a 16MP indication. This isn't exactly the same indication used to such fantastic impact in the Panasonic A55 (amongst others), but a re-engineered edition developed to provide enhanced power intake, with the guarantee of reduced picture disturbance and enhanced heated broad variety features consequently.

Beyond the new indication, however, the changes are regular. There are changes to the user interface - the inclusion of a incredibly Olympus-style outcome-orientated easy getting function is the most apparent modification. There's a contact more individual personalization available to digital cameras lovers in the more user-controlled techniques. In the NEX-C3, Panasonic has forgone producers the remaining and right management control management buttons on the management modify as they are now individual selectable. The C3 also has a choice of fun picture handling liver (another function it's challenging not to online with Olympus).

Sony has formerly verbal of improving the NEX broad variety in two suggestions - in an easy-to-use direction for point-and-shoot upgraders, and towards providing higher information management for lovers - and it doesn't take comprehensive research to execute out which of these the C3 is element of. Just as Panasonic has identified to contract and quickly easily quickly simplify its G and GF-series camcorders, Panasonic is clearly trying to entice clients who want DSLR amazing but wouldn't consider having a big dark record of picture photo photographic camera around, and who (quite reasonably) are more enthusiastic about getting fantastic images than studying what f-numbers mean.

Sony NEX-C3 specification highlights

Revised 16.2MP CMOS sensor
ISO 200-12800
Creative Control results-orientated user interface
Picture Effects processing options
720p30 HD movies in MPEG-4 format

The NEX-3 (left) isn't exactly excessively bulky, so it's impressive to see that Sony has managed to make the C3 still smaller - it's slightly smaller even than the NEX-5.

Compared to Panasonic DMC-GF3 and Olympus PEN E-PL3

The Sony Alpha NEX-C3 continues Sony's line of interchangeable lens cameras featuring an APS-C sensor in a remarkably small body. Its nearest competitors are the recently released Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 and the Olympus PEN E-PL3, both of which are based on the Micro 4/3 mount. Even with a larger sensor than both of its competitors Sony has managed to create a body on par with the svelte GF3.

From the returning it's simple to see the market place that Panasonic is looking for for with the NEX-C3. The management structure features most compacts with just one management modify and a variety of smooth key components. The Panasonic GF sequence has become progressively simpler with each version, nearing the simple design of the C3 and may now be it's nearest competitors. The E-PL3's management structure is targeted more towards partner clients, offering personalized details manages as well as an exterior function modify. The Panasonic GF3 has a touchscreens that provides admission to helping manages like anchorman focus and capture and evaluation features.

The greatest difference between these camcorders top-side is how each producer has handled along with a display on such little camcorders. Like the E-PL3 the NEX-C3 has no developed in display, but instead needs linking an exterior display. The GF3 has a pop up display, unfortunately this reduces you from improving to a more amazing display.

None of these cameras are large by any means, but the NEX-C3 maintains the status of Sony's NEX range as being some of the smallest interchangeable lens cameras available. The advent of the curious Pentax Q means that Sony's NEX range are no longer the smallest system cameras on the market, but considering the size of their APS-C format sensors, the degree of miniaturization that Sony has achieved is impressive.


	Sony NEX-C3	Panasonic GF3	Olympus E-PL3
Sensor	• 23.4 x 15.6 mm APS HD Exmor CMOS • 16.5 MP total • 16.2 MP effective	• 4/3" Live MOS sensor • 13.1 MP total • 12.3 MP effective	• 4/3" Live MOS sensor • 13.1 MP total • 12.3 MP effective
Image stabilization	• Lens	• Lens	• Sensor shift • 3 stops (claimed)
Battery life (CIPA)*	• ~400 shots	• ~300 shots	• ~ 330 shots
Video mode	• 720p 29.97fps (7 or 6 mbps) MP4	• 1080 60i (17mbps) • 720 60p (17mbps) • AVCHD & Motion JPEG	• 1080 60i (17mbps) • 720 60p (17mbps) • AVCHD & Motion JPEG
LCD screen	• 3.0" LCD • Articulating (80 degrees up / 45 degrees down) • 921,600 dots	• 3.0" LCD • 460,000 dots	• 3.0" OLED • Touch panel • 460,000 dots
Touch-screen	• No	• Yes	• No
Viewfinder	• None	• None	• Optional external
Metering modes	• Multi-segment (49 point honeycomb pattern)	• 144 zone multi-pattern sensing system	• Digital ESP (324-area multi-pattern metering) • Center-Weighted Average • Spot (1%) • Highlight based spot • Shadow based spot
Flash	• External	• Yes (in-built)	• External
Dimensions	• 110 x 60 x 33mm	• 107.7 x 67.1 x 32.5 mm / 4.24 x 2.64 x 1.28 in	• 109mm (W) x 63.7mm (H) x 37.3mm (D) (excluding protrusions)
Weight (body only)	• 225g	• 264g	• 313g