Sony NEX-C3

The Sony NEX-C3 is a mirrorless camera released in 2011, built around a compact body measuring 110 x 60 x 33mm and weighing 225 grams. That size lets it fit into small bags and jacket pockets while still taking interchangeable lenses.

Inside, an APS-C sensor works behind a Sony E mount, so lenses can be changed to suit the subject. Framing happens on the screen alone, since there is no viewfinder, which suits photographers who prefer composing at arm's length on a light, simple camera.

Still photography centres on a 16.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor paired with the Bionz processor. The resolution is ample for prints and reasonable crops, and the sensor format lets you work with depth of field deliberately, softening backgrounds when a scene calls for it.

Shooting moves at a relaxed pace. The fastest burst setting reaches 5.5 frames per second, which suits casual action rather than long sequences. Autofocus draws on 25 points, and the ISO range runs from 200 to 12800, so higher sensitivities are available when light drops.

There is no stabilisation in the body, so camera shake falls to shutter speed, steady technique or a stabilised lens. With a top shutter speed of 1/4000 second and a base sensitivity of ISO 200, wide apertures can run out of room in bright conditions before the frame overexposes.

These specifications add up to a modest 50/100 for optics, and the camera sits in the lower range of cameras in our database for Optics. The score reflects partial credit for resolution, ISO range and shutter speed, and nothing for in-body stabilisation.

Video is very much a secondary capability here. The highest resolution offered is Standard HD, recorded in the MP4 format, which keeps files straightforward to play and share. Standard HD sits below Full HD, so clips suit casual use rather than detail-critical work.

The top frame rate is 30fps, which suits normal-speed footage; slow-motion shooting is not realistic from these specs.

Nor is there a built-in timelapse mode, so a sequence of stills over time has to be triggered and assembled by other means.

The limited 34/100 video score follows from Standard HD resolution, a 30fps maximum and no built-in timelapse mode. Anyone who shoots video regularly will feel the ceiling quickly; for the occasional clip, Standard HD still records the moment.

Framing and review happen on the 3-inch LCD, whose 920,000-dot panel keeps previews and playback crisp. The screen flips for overhead or low-level shots, and live view shows exposure changes as you make them. There is no touch input, so settings move through buttons and menus.

Light is a planning matter. No flash is built in, but the camera takes an external one, so anyone shooting indoors or after dark needs to pack a flash.

There is no WiFi, Bluetooth or GPS here. Photos come off the camera by removing the memory card, and the camera itself does not tag your location. Weather sealing is absent too, so keep it sheltered from dust and rain.

Those specifications land at a modest 41/100 for features. Screen size and live view earned most of their points, while touch input, Bluetooth and weather sealing added none.

Storage runs through one card slot, which accepts SD, SDHC and SDXC cards alongside Memory Stick Pro Duo and Pro-HG Duo. SDXC support means large capacities are available, but with no second slot there is no in-camera spare, so a full card means a swap.

The NP-FW50 battery is rated at 400 shots, a figure supplied without test conditions, so real-world endurance will vary. Charging needs an external charger, since the battery cannot charge over USB, so a spare battery earns its place on longer trips.

At 24/100, this is the lowest of the camera's four section scores. The limited result reflects a single card slot, no USB charging and only partial points for the battery rating, so pack a spare card and a spare battery.