Canon A580 vs Sony NEX-C3

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon A580 vs Sony NEX-C3

1/2.5 inch 24.7mm²
8.0 megapixels
35.00mm - 140.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon A580 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the A580.

APS-C 365.0mm²
16.2 megapixels

Go in depth with our full Sony NEX-C3 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the NEX-C3.

Buy From

Differences

Canon A580 advantages over Sony NEX-C3

Less expensive
$150 vs $600 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

500 vs 400 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Higher max flash sync
1/500 vs 1/160 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 10 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony NEX-C3 advantages over Canon A580

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1/2.5 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 4.76 vs 1.76 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
RAW file ability
Yes vs No
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
More dots on screen
922k vs 115k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Less shutter lag
0.43 vs 0.76 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More pixels
16.2 vs 8.0 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Longer exposure
30 vs 15 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Faster JPEG shooting
5.5 fps vs 1.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
12800 vs 1600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.

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
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
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

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon A580

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony NEX-C3

Review Excerpt

Read our Canon A580 Review

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.
Read our Sony NEX-C3 Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon A590 IS

Canon A580

Canon A590 IS

$150
1/2.5 inch

Less expensive
Fast startup

$219
1/2.5 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Less shutter lag

Compare Canon A580 vs Canon A590 IS

Sony NEX-C3

Canon A590 IS

$559
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$219
1/2.5 inch

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony NEX-C3 vs Canon A590 IS

Compared to Canon E1

Canon A580

Canon E1

$150
1/2.5 inch

Less expensive
Fast startup

$200
1/2.3 inch

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon A580 vs Canon E1

Sony NEX-C3

Canon E1

$559
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$200
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony NEX-C3 vs Canon E1

Compared to Canon A1000 IS

Canon A580

Canon A1000 IS

$150
1/2.5 inch

Less expensive
Fast startup

$200
1/2.3 inch

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon A580 vs Canon A1000 IS

Sony NEX-C3

Canon A1000 IS

$559
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$200
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony NEX-C3 vs Canon A1000 IS

Compared to Sony NEX-5N

Canon A580

Sony NEX-5N

$150
1/2.5 inch

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

$700
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon A580 vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-C3

Sony NEX-5N

$559
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

$700
APS-C

Shoots 24p video
Shoots 1080p video

Compare Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony NEX-5N

Compared to Sony NEX-5R

Canon A580

Sony NEX-5R

$150
1/2.5 inch

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon A580 vs Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-C3

Sony NEX-5R

$559
APS-C

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
Touchscreen

Compare Sony NEX-C3 vs Sony NEX-5R

Compare Other Cameras?