The BEST Sony Starter Camera For LESS Than $100!

The Sony NEX-C3 is that smallest and lightest mirrorless camera Sony has made to date. That means it's potentially a great little camera for street and travel photography. But, considering that it's over 11 years old, is it seriously worth buying in 2024?

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⏳ TIME STAMPS ⏳
Intro - @0:00
The Sony NEX-C3 - @0:34
Build & Handling - @2:30
Sponsor - Squarespace - @6:08
Sensor Upgrade - @6:54
Future Proof - @7:34
The Lens - @8:39
Autofocus - @10:09
Video Mode - @10:31
Image Quality - @11:25

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⚠ PLEASE NOTE ⚠

All of the opinions expressed in this video are my own based on my personal experience whilst using the equipment/software featured. Whilst some videos may include paid sponsorship, I never allow manufactuers to dictate what I can or can't say about their product(s). Their money helps to cover the cost of video production, it does NOT buy my opinion.
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#sony #mirrorlesscamera #streetphotography #streetphotographer #travelphotography

[memerscangame]

We doublin' the price with this one🗣🔥🔥

[niekfraterman]

The Sony nex 3N, which you alrady mentioned, is the camera to buy. It is only 50 pound more, but you get HD video, a 180 degree upward screen for selfies, builtin flash, battery life of 480 shots and the known Sony features as panorama and handheld night shot. I had the 3N with the 16-50 for a couple of years and then upgraded to the Nex 5R and later the 6xxx series, all with the same battary.

[PJ-omwq]

If you want an EVF get the NEX-6. It's actually a better EVF than the A6000.

[AnthonyPtak]

The NEx C3 is a fantastic surprise. I’ve owned 2 of them and it’s remarkably competent!

[moqmar]

The NEX-3N is the camera I learned everything I know about photography with, and it still holds up quite nicely, even though the plastic zoom/power combo button is a bit broken. Photos are still quite good though, and it has everything I needed until now. But newer cameras definitely feel a lot nicer and more responsive.

It was on sale for 250 € new (including the same lens you're using here) back in 2014 though, so I wouldn't really buy it used today, as I'm sure there must be newer/better options for similar prices now.

[MakePictures]

and if you guys are curious about the nex-3 and nex-5, they were my first sony cameras and they’re both also worth getting in this day - excellent photo and video results, tho for video id lean towards the 5

[tadc]

My Sony history goes back to NEX-6, which I still own. It's saving grace have been Play Memories Camera Apps. Some of them were free other ones were paid for costing a few $$ each. Nowadays, the NEX-6 sits in my bag, alongside an a6700, with the Picture Effect+ app on by default. It can do posterised photos Warhol style off the bat.

I've just checked that the paid for apps are no longer supported, listed as End Of Sales. Although, I've still managed to fetch the Touchless Shutter app today to top up my repository. It uses the viewfinder sensor to release shutter, which is included as a standard menu option in latest cameras.

[kerc]

This era of Sony cameras still deliver solid results. I got a NEX-F3 recently with the manual zoom kit lens for $100. Autofocus and image quality are really good. And the best part of it? E-mount. I can use all the lenses and adapters I already have for my a6400 if I want to.

[pbpl]

You don't need to use lever to control zoom - the ring on the lens can is used to manual focus and in AF mode it turns to be a zoom ring. But this lens is known for it's big distortion, which can be corrected automatically by built in camera profile. And here is the major issue of this combo - NEX C3 doesn't support lens corrections. So you have to shoot in RAW and then post proccess, live with gigantic disadvantages, or switch to older kin lens: 18-55

[jorgealbertomartinezortiz]

I love that camera, I bought mine two years ago for $45 plus shipping from japan (because menus were in japanese without the chance to change language). Sadly, the shutter mechanism got stuck after a waist-level fall.

[manicmarauder]

Picked up a NEX-5T about a month ago, last of the NEX line. Paired it with a Tokina 11-18, both from MPB. Awesome camera and lens combo, really been enjoying them. Note to anyone looking for the apps now that the Sony store page for these cameras has closed: There are repositories and archives online that allow you to sideload apps from people who backed theirs up before the store went down. Wouldn't normally publish that, but Sony abandoned the users so I have no problems showing that thanks to some people who hoisted and are flying the colors that they haven't been abandoned by everyone.

[PlausibleFutures]

I started with an NEX-3, and eventually upgraded through the 5N, 5R, and 6, made the jump to full-frame with the A7I and I wonder often if any of these were actual upgrades. The best pictures I've ever taken were still ones captured with the NEX-3 and the original 18-55 kit lens.

[ashurawrath]

Hey tom why you didnt make full review of your lumix g1?

[suzatlarge]

I enjoy these videos. My entry camera into the Sony mirrorless world was the NEX-6. I moved on from it and now own much newer models of Sony mirrorless cameras. But I confess: I bought a used NEX-6 a few months ago, as a lightweight walk-around camera, for when I don't want to carry my newer gear for some reason. I've been on online forums when people post questions about cameras that are "older tech." These Sony NEX cameras are indeed "older tech" - but they are not obsolete by any means. A smartphone or computer from 2011 would probably not be very usable today. But you can take bleeping good photos with NEX cameras in 2024. I'm sure the camera manufacturers want us to keep lusting after the newest most blingy coolest tech advancements. I get it, and I love my late-model Sony cameras (not the absolute latest, just saying). But if someone offered me a free NEX-5R or the like in good condition, I'd say thank you very much, put one of my good e mount lenses on it, and not look back.

[matthieuzglurg]

Actually Sony has been using 3 types of battery, there is the super small one that you'll find in teh RX100 and RX1 cameras. At least it's the same ones in both !

Also, funny enough the W-50 battery was not only used in their mirrorless stuff, it's present in most of the A mount SLT and DSLR cameras as well.

Speaking of, those SLT cameras are super underrated in my opinion. They cost next to nothing (and same goes for A mount lenses on MPB for example), have incredible burst rates and pretty modern sensors. Could be budget camera heaven !

As for the NEX C-3, maybe the lens is a little expensive for a camera this cheap and I definitely see the 20mm f/2.8 being a WONDERFUL lens to pair this camera with

[Andy-rkmu]

My NEX-F3 - a slight improvement over C3 is quite good. Thanks for the review.

[JessDemantAggeboe]

I once had that camera and I loved shooting street photography with it, but I don't remember what lenses I had then other than the lens you have

[hellopsp]

the wide aspect video is different :D. I only noticed you have been doing this to all the YT videos recently

[malcolmkasner]

I feel like the ttartisan 500mm was sitting in the corner whispering into his ear like the goblin mask from spiderman.

[workdesu]

Nex C3 was really compact in hand. with something like 7Artisan 18mm F6.3 lens or the sony 20mm f2.8 lens this would fare well as a very pocketable camera u can carry awnywhere. the later lens does cost twice as much this camera tho. i almost got this for my first camera but opted out for Nex 5R instead as i think i wanted to learn video shooting with more options.