Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera Reviewed
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First of all, I find it completely and utterly funny that the Sony Alpha NEX C3 is supposed to be a serious camera, yet one of the three colors chosen for the camera is pink! Pink is usually reserved for fun cameras or funky cameras, but rarely, very rarely, a serious camera.
Yet the Sony Alpha NEX-C3 camera is a serious camera. As part of the interchangeable lens line of cameras at Sony, the NEX-C3 is meant to compete with the very popular micro four thirds cameras except with Sony's one proprietary E-mount lenses.
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Sony Alpha NEX-C3 16 MP Compact Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera Kit with 18-55mm Zoom Lens (Black)
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The NEX-C3 is also shown as a serious contender with the use of the APS-C sensor. The APS-C is normally reserved for the larger DSLR type cameras, and the NEX C3 is Sony's way of showing that they can do some great things in smaller packages like the body of this camera. By including this sensor, Sony is able to reproduce around 13 times more of what you photograph than with the sensors in the other interchangeable or micro four thirds cameras.
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Sony α (alpha) NEX-C3 16.2 MP Digital SLR Camera - Black (Kit w/ 16mm Lens)
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Sony α (alpha) NEX-C3 16.2 MP Digital SLR Camera - Black (Kit w/ 18-55mm Lens)
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LED Video Light + Video Stabilizer Kit For Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Digital Camera
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Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Camera, Black,with 16mm f/2.8 55-210 #NEXC3A/B M
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With the sensor (further more known as the Exmor CMOS), the Sony NEX-C3 comes in at a 16.2 megapixel rating. This is more than the original 3 or Nex-5 which only came to 14.2 megapixels. And if megapixels is how you rate a camera, then the C3 is better than those two very popular models.
Maybe megapixels isn't your thing, and you know that what really matters is the ISO rating. The Sony Nex C3 has a very high sensitivity rating of 12800. 12800 will get just about every detail that you could want in a low light setting, yet still be crisp enough to not reflect the fact that so little light was available. The Bionz processor processes what light it can find quickly and efficiently making it extremely easy to use the camera in low or bright light.
While the Sony Nex camera isn't a compact camera, it is built like one, and so a feature found on the latest compacts should be found on an interchangeable lens camera, right? Right! So that's why you can find panorama available on this particular camera. If you've read about panorama before, you know that all you have to do is set the camera to this mode, then sweep the camera one direction or the other, and it will automatically stitch together all of the continuous shots to make a huge panoramic photo.
With the detail you get with the Sony NEX-C3, these photos should be even better than with the compact cameras. Plus the Nex-C3 upgrades the panorama with the ability to go to 3D panoramic if you would like.
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Interchangeable Lens Camera Photos
What the Sony Nex C3 doesn't do as well as its counterparts is HD video. Yet, it still manages to provide 720p resolution (compared to 1080p of course). Battery life is also a little bit less than one could want. At just 400 shots before a recharge is necessary, the owner of this camera may in fact need additional batteries. 400 shots, when holding a fantastic camera in your hands like the Nex C3 is not a lot of shots.
The camera is capable of shooting continuously at 5.5 frames per second, one of the fastest processing cameras available. This comes in particularly handy with fast moving subjects or targets, since you just never know when the best shot will happen.
It's also handy since there is no viewfinder on the camera. Instead you have the typical 3-inch LCD screen, or maybe I should say atypical. The LCD is a live view LCD, meaning that what you see on the LCD will be the shot you take. Nothing in the LCD is missing from the shot and nothing in the shot is missing from the LCD. White balance in the LCD is the same as the shot you take as is the focus.
The Sony NEX-C3 LCD is also tiltable. It extends outside of the body to the camera to tilt upwards at a maximum of 80 degrees or tilts down for 45 degrees. This way you can hold the camera in any position you like to get the right shot, yet still be able to see the action through the LCD. With the bright 921,0000 pixel screen, sunlight probably won't be too much of a problem, but if it is, tilt the screen a bit and the problem should cease to exist.
The Sony NEX-C3 interchangeable lens camera offers so much I did not even get to the facial recognition, smile shutter, focus assist, or the camera's ability to interact via the HDMI interface with Sony's other products. But if you will visit the product's above, you can certainly read more about it yourself.
We think the Sony NEX-C3 is a fantastic solution to the somewhat pricier micro four thirds cameras from Olympus and Panasonic. Especially if Sony A-mount lenses are already owned, it makes perfect sense to not lose the functionality of those lenses and go with a camera that will allow them to be used. Yet, also starting to realize the benefits of the interchangeable lens format of the Sony NEX-C3 camera! As we mentioned above, at first glance the Sony NEX-C3 doesn't appear to be a serious camera due to the color choices. But now we realize that Sony just chose to add a little fun to one of the most serious cameras in their catalog today.
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 Interchangeable Lens Camera Specs
* Model / ASIN: NEX-C3 / B0054I54F4
* Colors Available: Black, Silver (most popular), Pink
* Resolution: 16.2 megapixels against an APS-C CMOS sensor
* Lens: Can be sold as "body only", but typically sold with at least a 18 millimeter - 55 millimeter lens; compatible with all E-mount and most A-mount lenses
* Video Recording: 720p HD video recording capable
* Minimum Focus Range: 9 4/5 inches
* Continuous Shooting: 5.5 frames per second for highest speed but lowest mexapixel rating; 2.5 frames per second in normal mode
* Shutter Speed: 1/4000 of a secon to 30 seconds
* Aperture: Can handle f/3.5 to f/5.6 at the highest or f/22 to f/34
* ISO: 12,800 high sensitivity ISO capable
* LCD Display: 3-inch LCD with 921,000 pixelated display; LCD is tiltable 80 degrees up or 45 degrees down
* Viewfinder: None
* Flash: Flash is detachable but typically included, especially in kits
* File Format: JPEG, RAW,or RAW+JPEG for still photos; MPEG-4 for video format
* File Storage: Compatible with Memory Stick Pro, Pro-HG Duo and Pro-HG HX Duo; also SD, SDHC, and SDXC (two slots so both * Outputs: HDMI (x1); USB (x1);
* Power: Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery supplies enough power for around 400 shots before recharge is necessary
* Dimensions:
* Release Date: June 2011
Reference
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B. Daniels is the lead review expert with Find Cheap Bargains. B. was more than likely the person responsible for the hands-on review of every product on the site. He also spends time searching for sale bargains when not conducting and writing the reviews.
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