Sony Alpha NEX-5N vs Sony Alpha NEX-C3

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

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

Alpha NEX-5N compared with Alpha NEX-C3

	SonyAlpha NEX-5N	SonyAlpha NEX-C3
Overview
Released
Released	September 2011	June 2011
Image and sensor
Camera type
Camera type	Mirrorless	Mirrorless
Sensor format
Sensor format	APS-C	APS-C
Sensor type
Sensor type	Exmor APS HD CMOS	Exmor APS HD CMOS
Sensor dimensions
Sensor dimensions	23.5 × 15.6 mm	23.5 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution
Effective resolution	16.1 MP	16.2 MP
Largest image
Largest image	4912 × 3264	4912 × 3264
RAW recording
RAW recording	Yes	Yes
Standard ISO range
Standard ISO range	100–25600	200–12800
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	16.7 million total pixels; charge-protection coating and ultrasonic vibration for dust reduction	16.5 million total pixels; charge-protection coating and electromagnetic vibration of the optical low-pass filter for dust reduction
Image formats
Image formats	JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; ARW 2.2; MPO for 3D Sweep Panorama	JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; ARW 2.2; MPO for 3D Sweep Panorama
ISO detail
ISO detail	Standard ISO 100–25600; Auto ISO 100–3200	Standard ISO 200–12800; Auto ISO 200–1600
Image processor
Image processor	BIONZ	BIONZ
Lens and shooting
Lens mount
Lens mount	Sony E-mount	Sony E-mount
Stabilisation
Stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst
Maximum continuous burst	10 fps	5.5 fps
Lens detail
Lens detail	E-mount; launch kits use E 18–55mm F3.5–5.6 OSS and/or E 16mm F2.8; the later double-zoom kit adds E 55–210mm F4.5–6.3 OSS. Optional LA-EA2 provides phase-detection AF for compatible A-mount lenses.	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.
Autofocus
Autofocus	Contrast detection with 25 points; single or continuous AF, direct manual focus and manual focus; object tracking, touch focus and focus peaking	Contrast detection; 25-point multipoint, centre or flexible-spot areas; single or continuous autofocus, direct manual focus and manual focus; focus peaking
Shutter
Shutter	Vertical-traverse focal-plane shutter with switchable electronic first curtain; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second	Electronically controlled vertical-traverse focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second
Burst detail
Burst detail	Approximately 10 fps Speed Priority Continuous with focus and exposure fixed at the first frame. Sony specifies approximately 3 fps normal continuous advance and buffers of 10 JPEG, 6 RAW or 4 RAW+JPEG images under its stated conditions.	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 detail
Stabilisation detail	No sensor-shift stabilisation (PhotographyBlog and CameraLabs); optical correction requires a compatible OSS lens	No sensor-shift stabilisation (PhotographyBlog and CameraLabs); optical correction requires a compatible OSS lens
Flash
Flash	Supplied HVL-F7S detachable flash; guide number 7 at ISO 100 in metres; approximately four-second recycle time	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
Exposure controls	Intelligent Auto and PASM; Photo Creativity Touch, Picture Effects, 2D/3D Sweep Panorama, DRO, Auto HDR and multi-exposure low-light modes	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 resolution
Highest video resolution	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	1280 × 720 at 30 fps
Video detail
Video detail	Japanese model records AVCHD 2.0 Full HD at 60p up to 28 Mbps, 60i or 24p; PAL-region models offer 50p (CameraLabs). Manual aperture and shutter control is available during recording. MP4 offers 1440 × 1080 or VGA; interlaced field rates are separate from full-frame rates.	MP4 MPEG-4 Visual; 1280 × 720 at 30p in Fine or Standard quality, or 640 × 480 at 30p; no Full HD recording
Audio
Audio	Built-in stereo microphones; wind-noise filter; Dolby Digital or AAC-LC; proprietary accessory microphone support	Built-in stereo microphone; MPEG-4 AAC-LC two-channel audio
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	None
Screen size
Screen size	3″	3″
Screen dots
Screen dots	921,600	921,600
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	Yes	No
Tilting screen
Tilting screen	Yes	Yes
Display detail
Display detail	Capacitive TruBlack touchscreen; tilts approximately 80° up and 45° down	TruBlack wide TFT; tilts approximately 80° up and 45° down; no touchscreen (CameraLabs)
Viewfinder detail
Viewfinder detail	No built-in finder; optional FDA-EV1S OLED electronic finder uses Smart Accessory Terminal 2	No built-in viewfinder (PhotographyBlog and CameraLabs)
Connections and design
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	430 photographs	400 photographs
Body weight
Body weight	210 g (better)	225 g
Release detail
Release detail	Sony Japan specifies 9 September 2011 for the body, NEX-5NK zoom kit and NEX-5ND double-lens kit; the later NEX-5NY double-zoom kit followed on 18 May 2012.	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 media
Recording media	Memory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC	Memory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Ports
Ports	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, Mini HDMI Type C and Smart Accessory Terminal 2	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	NP-FW50; Sony's Japanese launch sheet specifies approximately 430 CIPA photographs. CameraLabs gives 410 shots; the maker's launch figure is used here.	NP-FW50; approximately 400 photographs under CIPA conditions
Charging
Charging	Supplied BC-VW1 external charger; optional AC-PW20AM power supply	Supplied BC-VW1 external charger
Dimensions
Dimensions	Approximately 110.8 × 58.8 × 38.2 mm (width × height × depth); 23.3 mm thinnest section excludes grip and mount	Approximately 109.6 × 60.0 × 33.0 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions; 25.9 mm thinnest section excludes grip and mount
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 210 g camera only; 269 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo; lens excluded	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
Materials	Magnesium-alloy front and top covers	Aluminium top cover
Colours
Colours	Black body; black, silver or white kits in Japan	Black, silver or pink
In the box
In the box	NP-FW50 battery, BC-VW1 charger, USB cable, detachable flash and case, lens cap, shoulder strap and software CD; lenses depend on kit	NP-FW50 battery, BC-VW1 charger, USB cable, detachable flash and case, lens cap, shoulder strap and software CD; lenses depend on kit