There are plenty of camera options for street photography these days. But a bunch of those tend to be out of reach for the budget-conscious photographer. Now, there’s no shame in going for older models or secondhand units just so you have something to get started with. If that sounds fine with you, here’s a Sony camera that you may come across during your search.
In the video above, UK-based photographer and videographer Curtis Padley shares his thoughts and experience using the Sony NEX-C3. Released in 2011, this digital mirrorless camera from Sony’s second generation of mirrorless cameras has a compact form factor which houses a 16MP APS-C sensor. He was able to score a “for repairs” unit on ebay for less than $50. Fortunately, he was able to get its sensor cleaned. So, you can definitely get it dirt cheap on the secondhand market. But expect units in good working condition to go for twice or thrice as much.
Now, while the Sony NEX-C3 is budget-friendly, is it still worth picking up? Padley covers as much as he can about both the shooting experience and the photos you can get out of it. His final verdict? The photos can turn out pretty decent, but the process of getting to them can be too fiddly and and problematic. He says the handling isn’t too great either. So, he suggests skipping this camera. Either make do with your smartphone camera or save up for a better model.
Of course, if you can get past or work around the “quirks” of old cameras like the Sony NEX-C3, it’s still possible to find your own process and get photos you’d like. After all, camera technology has come a long way. Many improvements have been made to mirrorless cameras since these cameras were released.
But do you think Padley was a bit harsh in his conclusion? Would you still consider getting this camera as a first, budget-friendly street photography camera and see if you can work with it? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
If your ‘budget’ is literally $50, than you aren’t going to have a lot of options, and will likely need to learn to make do with what you have. I do think any contemporary smartphone is going to have a better on board camera than something along the lines of that 13 year old Sony, so it does sound like the smart thing to do would be to skip it. Especially considering that the author was probably lucky that all that camera needed was a sensor cleaning. If it needed actual repairs, which you most likely wouldn’t be able to… Read more »
I agree that $50 isn’t a realistic budget for a perfectly working unit, but I think Curtis knew that. So he was willing to gamble on a unit that had issues but nothing major. Some sellers also wouldn’t be honest about the issues of the unit they’re selling. But then, some buyers could be lucky finding a unit in good working condition in bargain/secondhand stores that are selling them cheap “as is.” So, are you likely to find something in good working condition for $50? I’d say chances aren’t high, but not zero. When you’re buying older cameras secondhand, it’s… Read more »
looking at the video link above, regardless of the price, I wonder how you’re going to capture a photo using a camera with no lens?
I had a Sony C3 and i really enjoyed using it for street photography. I sold it for a small profit and used the proceed to buy a sony a5100. The C3 has it challenges but it also made me more patient.
I get fed up with Youtuber kids telling everyone which is the best camera to use for whatever subject. Any camera is good if you know how to use it. The real question is, how good are you as a photographer?