Request a product

Sony Alpha 9 III vs Sony Alpha NEX-C3

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyAlpha 9 IIISonyAlpha NEX-C3
Overview
ReleasedJanuary 2024June 2011
Image and sensor
Camera typeMirrorlessMirrorless
Sensor formatFull frameAPS-C
Sensor typeStacked Exmor RS CMOS with global shutterExmor APS HD CMOS
Sensor dimensions35.6 × 23.8 mm23.5 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution24.6 MP16.2 MP
Largest image6000 × 40004912 × 3264
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range250–25600200–12800
Sensor detailApproximately 25.2 million total pixels; integral memory and global exposure rather than sequential line exposure.16.5 million total pixels; charge-protection coating and electromagnetic vibration of the optical low-pass filter for dust reduction
Image formatsJPEG, HEIF and Sony ARW 5.0 RAW.JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; ARW 2.2; MPO for 3D Sweep Panorama
ISO detailStandard ISO 250–25600 for stills and movies; stills expand to ISO 125–51200.Standard ISO 200–12800; Auto ISO 200–1600
Image processorBIONZ XR with dedicated AI processing unit.BIONZ
Lens and shooting
Lens mountSony E-mountSony E-mount
StabilisationSensor shiftOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst120 fps5.5 fps
Lens detail–Japanese launch kits contain E 18–55mm F3.5–5.6 OSS, alone or with E 16mm F2.8. Updated LA-EA1 permits autofocus with SAM/SSM A-mount lenses under Sony's stated conditions.
AutofocusUp to 759 still-image or 627 movie phase-detection points; sensitivity EV −5 to 20 with an F2 lens at ISO 100 equivalent. Current UK specification includes automatic subject selection and people, animals, birds, insects, cars, trains and aircraft; launch reviews precede later firmware enhancements.Contrast detection; 25-point multipoint, centre or flexible-spot areas; single or continuous autofocus, direct manual focus and manual focus; focus peaking
Shutter–Electronically controlled vertical-traverse focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second
Burst detailUp to 120 fps full-resolution electronic bursts with AF/AE tracking under Sony test conditions; speed depends on lens compatibility and shooting settings. Pre-Capture retains up to one second before full shutter press. No mechanical shutter.Approximately 5.5 fps in Speed Priority Continuous, with focus and exposure fixed at the first frame; approximately 2.5 fps normal continuous advance
Stabilisation detailFive-axis sensor shift; 8.0-stop CIPA pitch/yaw claim with FE 50mm F1.2 GM and long-exposure noise reduction off. Active and Dynamic Active movie modes supported.No sensor-shift stabilisation (PhotographyBlog and CameraLabs); optical correction requires a compatible OSS lens
Flash–Supplied detachable flash; guide number 7 at ISO 100 in metres; approximately four-second recycle time; optional HVL-F20S uses the proprietary accessory terminal
Exposure controls–Intelligent Auto, program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual; Photo Creativity, Picture Effects, 2D/3D Sweep Panorama, DRO, Auto HDR and multi-exposure low-light modes
Video
Highest video resolution3840 × 2160 at 120 fps1280 × 720 at 30 fps
Video detailUp to uncropped 3840 × 2160 120p NTSC or 100p PAL; 4K 60p uses 6K oversampling. Supports 10-bit 4:2:2, S-Log3 and S-Cinetone; All-Intra 4K tops out at 60p. External HDMI RAW output is separate from internal recording.MP4 MPEG-4 Visual; 1280 × 720 at 30p in Fine or Standard quality, or 640 × 480 at 30p; no Full HD recording
Audio–Built-in stereo microphone; MPEG-4 AAC-LC two-channel audio
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderElectronicNone
Screen size3.2″3″
Screen dots2,095,104921,600
TouchscreenYesNo
Tilting screenYesYes
Display detailFour-axis LCD tilts and opens sideways; approximately 98° up, 40° down, 180° sideways and 270° rotation.TruBlack wide TFT; tilts approximately 80° up and 45° down; no touchscreen (CameraLabs)
Viewfinder detail0.64-inch Quad-XGA OLED with 9437184 dots and approximately 0.90× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity; selectable up to 240 fps NTSC or 200 fps PAL.No built-in viewfinder (PhotographyBlog and CameraLabs)
Connections and design
Wi-FiYes–
BluetoothYes–
Battery life (maker's claim)530 photographs400 photographs
Body weight617 g225 g
Release detailSony UK announced availability in January 2024; Japan's announcement specifies 26 January. The main date retains UK month precision.Sony Japan specifies 24 June 2011 for NEX-C3K and NEX-C3D kits. This is the NEX-C3, separate from the original NEX-3 and later F3 or 3N.
Recording mediaBoth slots accept CFexpress Type A or UHS-I/UHS-II SD.Memory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
PortsUSB Type-C at 10 Gbps, Multi/Micro USB, full-size HDMI, 1000BASE-T Ethernet, sync terminal, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets and digital-audio Multi Interface Shoe.–
Wireless connectionsWi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac at 2.4/5 GHz and Bluetooth 5.0.–
Battery life detailNP-FZ100; Sony UK CIPA approximately 530 photographs with LCD or 400 with viewfinder. Japan lists 520/410 respectively. USB Type-C Power Delivery charging and power supported.NP-FW50; approximately 400 photographs under CIPA conditions
Charging–Supplied BC-VW1 external charger
DimensionsApproximately 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9 mm (width × height × maximum depth); grip-to-monitor depth 72.8 mm.Approximately 109.6 × 60.0 × 33.0 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions; 25.9 mm thinnest section excludes grip and mount
Weight detailSony UK specifies approximately 617 g body only or 702 g with battery and memory card; Japan specifies 618/703 g respectively. Main figures use the UK specification.Approximately 225 g camera only; 283 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo; lens excluded. CameraLabs incorrectly labels 225 g as including battery and card; Sony's launch table is used here.
Materials–Aluminium top cover
Colours–Black, silver or pink
In the boxNP-FZ100 battery, BC-QZ1 charger, power cord, cable protector, shoulder strap, body cap, accessory shoe cap and eyepiece cup, according to Sony UK.NP-FW50 battery, BC-VW1 charger, USB cable, detachable flash and case, lens cap, shoulder strap and software CD; lenses depend on kit

More comparisons