Canon EOS
5D Mark III
 vs
Sony
NEX-5N

Updated (March, 2013): Compare the Canon EOS 7D MII vs Sony NEX-5R Hands-on P

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

86

  
Sony NEX-5N

59

  

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
25,600 ISO
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,293 ISO
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
 
Runner-up

Sony NEX-5N

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Size
 Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark III
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Battery life Much longer battery life 950 shots vs 460 shots
Help
 More than 2x more shots per battery charge
Screen size Larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 125 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 More than 15.5x more lenses available
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,293 ISO vs 1,079 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark III has excellent image quality 1.1 f-stops higher ISO than the NEX-5N
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 500 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
 3.8x less delay when turning on
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 22.1 MP vs 16 MP
Help
 Capture around 40% more detail in your photos
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Focus points More focus points 61 vs 25
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 81.0 vs 77.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentaprism vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 120 ms vs 235 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when taking photos
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Canon EOS 5D Mark III Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark III

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N
Size Much smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 152x116x76 mm
Help
 5.4x smaller
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Weight Much lighter 269 g vs 950 g
Help
 3.5x lighter
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 11.7 EV
Help
 1 f-stop more dynamic range
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3"
Help
 2x thinner
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 6 fps
Help
 Around 70% faster continuous shooting
Lowest price Much cheaper $649.95 vs $3,249.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $2,600 cheaper (5x less)
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon EOS 5D Mark III
86 vs 59
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Light sensitivity Extremely good maximum light sensitivity Help
25,600 ISO
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
5D Mark III:81.0
NEX-5N:77.0
Sensor size Large sensors Help
5D Mark III:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
NEX-5N:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
5D Mark III:22.1 MP
NEX-5N:16 MP
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Color depth Good color depth Help
5D Mark III:24 bits
NEX-5N:23.6 bits
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Battery life Great battery life Help
5D Mark III:950 shots
NEX-5N:460 shots
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
5D Mark III:1/8000s
NEX-5N:1/4000s
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Compare the EOS 60D vs the NEX-5N
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the NEX-5N
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Compare the D5100 vs the NEX-5N
Canon EOS 650D

Canon EOS 650D

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $797 body only

$639 - $1,144 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the EOS 650D vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Compare the EOS 650D vs the NEX-5N
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the D3200 vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Compare the D3200 vs the NEX-5N

Canon EOS 5D Mark III Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,999 body only

$2,599 with 24-105mm lens
GPS Has a GPS
Size Smaller
Cross type focus points Many fewer cross-type focus points
Screen size Smaller screen
Compare the EOS 6D vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Overall image quality Better image quality
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Cross type focus points Significantly fewer cross-type focus points
Compare the D800 vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,479 body only

$2,699 - $3,000 with 24-105mm lens
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Weight Lighter
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Cross type focus points Many fewer cross-type focus points
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens
Overall image quality Better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Cross type focus points Many fewer cross-type focus points
Compare the D600 vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Lens availability More lenses available
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark III

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 - $782 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Less startup delay
Supports 24p No 24p support
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Startup delay Less startup delay
Touch screen No touch screen
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the NEX-5N
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the NEX-7 vs the NEX-5N
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$324 - $699 with 20-50mm lens
True resolution Higher true resolution
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the NX1000 vs the NEX-5N

appearance

Canon EOS 5D Mark III Sony NEX-5N
Canon EOS 5D Mark III Sony NEX-5N
Canon EOS 5D Mark III Sony NEX-5N

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