• APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 18.0 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • APS-C 365.0mm2
  • 16.2 megapixels
  •  

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Differences

Canon 7D advantages over Sony NEX-C3

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Fast startup
    ~0.40 vs 1.2 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 800 vs 400 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    216 mm vs 83 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/250 vs 1/160 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • Less shutter lag
    0.13 vs 0.43 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    8.0 fps vs 5.5 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    22 vs 10 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Sony NEX-C3 advantages over Canon 7D

  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,083 vs 854 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Thinner
    33 mm vs 73 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    497g vs 1467g
    Lighter weight
  • Wider angle kit lens
    27 mm vs 45 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Neither provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

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Review Excerpt

  • Excellent 18-megapixel sensor with impressively low noise and superb detail; Very good high ISO performance, especially for 18-megapixel subframe sensor; Rugged construction with magnesium body and weather sealing; Fast autofocus and fast burst rate of 8 fps; Full HD (1920x1080) movies at 30/25/24p, 60/50p at 1280x720.

  • No dedicated AF-assist lamp (flash is used), and AF-assist adjustment is buried in the Flash Settings menu; Kit lens (28-135mm) isn't quite up to the resolving power of the 18-megapixel sensor, odd focal length for subframe DSLR; No continuous autofocus in Movie mode.

  • Very small body, refined build. Large sensor for good light gathering. Various low-light shooting modes to improve results. HD video mode with real-time autofocus.

  • Menu-driven interface is sometimes confusing, making quickly finding what you want difficult. Camera may be too small for some.

The Competition

Compared to Canon 7D Mark II

Canon 7D
Canon 7D Mark II
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Less shutter lag
  • $1799
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Built-in GPS
Sony NEX-C3
Canon 7D Mark II
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • Bigger pixels
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $1799
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Canon 60D

Canon 7D
Canon 60D
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • More cross-type AF points
  • Less shutter lag
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Sony NEX-C3
Canon 60D
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Lens selection

Compared to Nikon D7000

Canon 7D
Nikon D7000
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • More cross-type AF points
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Higher effective ISO
Sony NEX-C3
Nikon D7000
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Sony NEX-5N

Canon 7D
Sony NEX-5N
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • In-camera panoramas
Sony NEX-C3
Sony NEX-5N
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Shoots 24p video
  • Shoots 1080p video

Compared to Sony A77

Canon 7D
Sony A77
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
  • $1899
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking
Sony NEX-C3
Sony A77
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • Bigger pixels
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $1899
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking
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