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If you've been looking to upgrade from a compact point-and-shoot, or want to trim a significant amount of fat from your DSLR kit, then there's no better option than the NEX-C3.

The Sony Alpha NEX-C3 builds on the already-excellent NEX-3, but manages to be lighter and more compact. Not only does the NEX-C3 produce stunning images, even at high ISO settings, it easily earns our Editors' Choice for compact interchangeable lens cameras.

The Sony Alpha NEX-C3 is a solid option for photographers who want a compact interchangeable lens camera with a good feature set and above average image quality. It has most of the same features as the higher end NEX cameras, so you'll get good value for the dollar.

...its combination of high-end compact style handling and semi-professional DSLR image quality mean that it is a highly attractive option for anyone looking to move up from a compact camera...

A lot of people will like the Sony Alpha NEX-C3 for its excellent photo quality and a now more usable design, but it can get unexpectedly heavy with the zoom E-mount lenses and it's still a bit more expensive than many point-and-shoot upgraders will like.

Sony has created a great little interchangeable lens camera in the NEX-C3, although it's not exactly what we'd call compact with the kit lens attached. Operational quirks prevent this from being the best in class, so we look forward to how the NEX system will improve in the next iteration.

The Sony NEX-C3 continues the move toward smaller and smaller compact system cameras, with a build and software design that works well. Image quality is quite good, and though the interface isn't as straightforward as we'd like, the NEX-C3 is easy to recommend.

Now is as good a time to buy the NEX-C3 as any, and we recommend it for any casual photographer who wants to step up to a serious camera.

Still, approaching this model afresh, it is a very capable camera in its own right for existing snapshot users looking to up their game, delivering consistently sharp and colourful results.

...the NEX-C3 doesn’t quite make 9/10. Judged solely on its still-image capturing abilities though, we’ve no hesitation in recommending it.

...the NEX-C3 is smaller, lighter,and more fully featured than the first generation NEX models. It provides...excellent image quality and delivers improved handling both for compact upgraders and enthusiasts. All-in-all, more than enough to gain it our Highly Recommended award.

Sony’s new baby features improved performance over its predecessor, and the best image quality of any mirrorless system camera we've seen.

Despite the odd handling niggle, the Sony NEX-C3 has proved itself to be a very capable camera with some innovative features to suit photographers of all experience levels.

Image quality to rival SLRs and much improved performance over the NEX-3 – a breathtakingly impressive point-and-shoot camera.

... the NEX-C3 is still best suited to the beginner rather than the more confident prosumer...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...won't harm its chances either.