Image Quality

All of the sample images in this Review were taken using the 16 megapixel Fine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 5Mb.

Viewed on a PC, there's an overall softness to the NEX-C3's images that we hadn't expected - a soft sheen rather than digital crispness - which could well be down to the all-purpose nature of the zoom lens we had in for testing as much as sensor performance. Where it didn't disappoint was in the reproduction of colour, an area in which Sony traditionally excels. The warmly saturated colours most closely reminded us of the performance of Panasonic's G-series, while the Sweep Panorama images are a definite improvement on the video grab-style results we'd formerly seen from Cyber-shot point and shoots. It would be even nicer to see the recently introduced High Resolution mode make its way onto the NEX series.

With sharp results eminently achievable when shooting handheld at the maximum telephoto of the kit zoom - and even at night-time thanks to the handheld Night Shot mode unexpectedly found within the scene mode options which fires a brief rapid burst of images to compensate for shake - at maximum wideangle there is some slight barrel distortion, but this is not overly distracting. Edge to edge sharpness is similarly reasonable, though - another Sony regular - pixel fringing does make an appearance between areas of high contrast.

In terms of low light photography the NEX-C3 does very well, despite the modest increase in megapixels. Noise is fairly unobtrusive all the way up to ISO 6400, the look of the image at that high-ish setting as good as results taken at ISO 800 on a standard compact, and beating most of the compact system camera competition. This suggests ISO 12800 as not a stretch too far, and so it proves. Inevitably you're getting a noisier image but not one that's very noticeably much softer. Thus low light shooters have broader options at their disposal, and spec that isn't just there for spec's sake.

Noise

There are 7 ISO settings available on the Sony NEX-C3. Here are some 100% crops which show the noise levels for each ISO setting:

JPEG	RAW
ISO 200 (100% Crop)	ISO 200 (100% Crop)
ISO 400 (100% Crop)	ISO 400 (100% Crop)
ISO 800 (100% Crop)	ISO 800 (100% Crop)
ISO 1600 (100% Crop)	ISO 1600 (100% Crop)
ISO 3200 (100% Crop)	ISO 3200 (100% Crop)
ISO 6400 (100% Crop)	ISO 6400 (100% Crop)
ISO 12800 (100% Crop)	ISO 12800 (100% Crop)

Sharpening

Here are two 100% crops which have been Saved as Web - Quality 50 in Photoshop. The right-hand image has had some sharpening applied in Photoshop. The out-of-the camera images are soft at the default sharpening setting. You can change the in-camera sharpening level if you don't like the default look.

Original (100% Crop)	Sharpened (100% Crop)

File Quality

The Sony NEX-C3 has 2 different image quality settings available, with Fine being the highest quality option. Here are some 100% crops which show the quality of the various options, with the file size shown in brackets.

16M Fine (4.9Mb) (100% Crop)	16M Standard (3.65Mb) (100% Crop)
16M RAW (16.2Mb) (100% Crop)

Flash

The flash settings on the Sony NEX-C3 are Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow sync and Rear flash sync, with Red-eye reduction available in the Main Menu. These shots of a white coloured wall were taken at a distance of 1.5m.

Flash Off - Wide Angle (18mm)	Flash On - Wide Angle (18mm)
Flash Off - Telephoto (55mm)	Flash On - Telephoto (55mm)

And here are a couple of portrait shots. Neither the Auto setting or the Red-eye reduction mode caused any amount of red-eye.

Flash On	Flash On (100% Crop)
Red-eye reduction	Red-eye reduction (100% Crop)

Night

The Sony NEX-C3's maximum shutter speed is 30 seconds and there's also a Bulb mode for even longer exposures, which is excellent news if you're seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 15 seconds at ISO 200.

Night Shot	Night Shot (100% Crop)

Hand-held Twilight

In the Hand-held Twilight mode the NEX-C3 takes six high-ISO photos in rapid succession and combines them into a single image.

Manual Mode (ISO 200, 15 seconds)	Hand-held Twilight Mode (ISO 6400, 1/15th second)
Manual Mode (100% Crop)	Hand-held Twilight Mode (100% Crop)

Dynamic Range Optimizer

D-Range Optimiser (DRO) is Sony's solution to improve shadow detail in photos taken in contrasty light.

Off	On

High Dynamic Range

High Dynamic Range Optimiser (HDR) is Sony's solution for capturing more contrast than a single exposure can handle by combining two exposures into one image.

Off	On

Intelligent Sweep Panorama Mode

The Sony NEX-C3 allows you to take panoramic images very easily, by 'sweeping' with the camera while keeping the shutter release depressed. The camera does all the processing and stitching and even successfully compensates for moving subjects.

Standard

Download the Full Size Image

Wide

Download the Full Size Image

3D Sweep Panorama Mode

There's also an additional 3D Sweep Panorama mode on the virtual on-screen shooting dial alongside the regular (2D) Sweep Panorama. If you're lucky enough to own a compatible 3D HDTV, download the samples below to experience the full 3D effect.

Download the Full Size Image

Download the MPO File

Creative Styles

There are 6 Creative Style preset effects that you can use to change the look of your images.

Standard	Vivid
Portrait	Landscape
Sunset	B/W

Picture Effects

Just like Olympus and Panasonic, the Sony NEX-C3 now offers a range of eleven creative Picture Effects.

Posterization (Color)	Posterization (B/W)
Pop Color	Retro
Partial Color (Red)	Partial Color (Green)
Partial Color (Blue)	Partial Color (Yellow)
High Key	High Contrast Monochrome
Toy Camera

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the Sony NEX-C3 camera, which were all taken using the 16 megapixel Fine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

Sample RAW Images

The Sony NEX-C3 enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Sony RAW (ARW) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movie & Video

Product Images

Front of the Camera

Front of the Camera

Pop-Up Flash

Pop-Up Flash

Pop-Up Flash

Pop-Up Flash

Isometric View

Isometric View

Isometric View

Isometric View

Rear of the Camera

Rear of the Camera / Image Displayed

Rear of the Camera / Turned On

Rear of the Camera / Shooting Mode

Rear of the Camera / Help Mode

Rear of the Camera / Main Menu

Rear of the Camera / Picture Effects

Rear of the Camera / Creative Controls

Rear of the Camera / Creative Controls

Rear of the Camera / Creative Controls

Tilting LCD Screen

Tilting LCD Screen

Tilting LCD Screen

Tilting LCD Screen

Tilting LCD Screen

Tilting LCD Screen

Top of the Camera

Bottom of the Camera

Side of the Camera

Side of the Camera

Front of the Camera

Front of the Camera

Memory Card Slot

Battery Compartment

Conclusion

The Sony NEX-C3 modestly builds on the success of its predecessor by increasing the megapixel count, refining the user interface further for beginners, and making the body size even smaller and lighter. While the extended battery life and new range of picture effects won't make current NEX owners rush to upgrade, these improvements do make the NEX-C3 a more compelling proposition, particularly with regards to its overall usability.

Looking and feeling more like a compact camera than ever, this new NEX perhaps lacks the retro charm of the Olympus PEN series, but it certainly majors as a viable upgrade option for someone looking for DSLR-like image quality without the size and bulk of such a system. The NEX-C3 makes more sense when twinned with the 16mm pancake lens rather than the 14-42mm kit zoom though, which rather dwarves the svelte body.

Image quality is very good, beating most of its compact system rivals at the higher ISO speeds where those models with smaller sensors naturally struggle. The jump to 16 megapixels thankfully hasn't had a detrimental effect on the images that the NEX-C3 produces, and the introduction of a range of Picture Effects brings this new model up to speed with the PEN series. We're still not convinced by the unwieldy clip-on flash unit, though, and hope to see a fully integrated flash in a future model, and a rotating rather than just tilting screen would be another logical addition.

While usability has been improved, with a number of customisable controls, the NEX-C3 is still best suited to the beginner rather than the more confident prosumer, who will bemoan all the button pressing that's required. Its compact-camera leanings and array of hand-holding modes make the new NEX-C3 a logical step-up model from your run-of-the-mill compact, and the affordable price-tag certainly won't harm its chances either.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	4
Features	4
Ease-of-use	4
Image quality	4.5
Value for money	4.5

Review Roundup

Reviews of the Sony NEX-C3 from around the web.

Specifications

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