Updated (August, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS M vs Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5N

Winner
Sony NEX-5N

91

vs

Canon EOS M

76

Canon EOS M

Runner-up
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Light sensitivity
High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
3D
Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
 

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS M

Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Lens availability
Many lenses available
162 lenses
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS M

Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
Around 20.5x more lenses available
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
More than 10% higher resolution screen
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 16 MP
Help
Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Focus points Slightly more focus points 31 vs 25
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.5"
Help
Around 20% thinner
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
Size Slightly smaller 109x66x32 mm vs 111x59x38 mm
Help
Around 10% smaller
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $479.00 vs $649.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $171 cheaper (around 30% less)
Canon EOS M Learn more about
the Canon EOS M

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N

Battery life Much longer battery life 460 shots vs 230 shots
Help
2x more shots per battery charge
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 827 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Better image quality 77.0 vs 65.0
Help
Around 20% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 11.2 EV
Help
1.5 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Startup delay Less startup delay 1900 ms vs 2900 ms
Help
More than 30% less delay when turning on
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 235 ms vs 993 ms
Help
4.2x less delay when taking photos
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.5 more bits of color
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 4.3 fps
Help
Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
Around 10% larger sensor
Weight Slightly lighter 269 g vs 298 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS M Canon EOS M
76 vs 91
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-5N.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
EOS M:1,040k dots
NEX-5N:920k dots
Touch screen Have touch screens Help
Less buttons
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Size Fairly small Help
EOS M:109x66x32 mm
NEX-5N:111x59x38 mm
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5R

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$498 body only

$598 with 18-55mm lens

Autofocus Focuses automatically
Focus points Has significantly more focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Sony Alpha NEX-6

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$648 body only

$798 with 16-50mm lens

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Startup delay Has significantly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Pro digicam

$648 - $760

Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$308 - $549 with 20-50mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Touch screen Doesn't have a touch screen
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 - $743 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Light sensitivity (boost) Lacks boost light sensitivity
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$495 - $730 with 18-55mm lens

Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger

Canon EOS M Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel SL1

Canon Rebel SL1

Entry-level DSLR

$649 body only

$749 - $778 with 18-55mm lens

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Size Much larger
Thickness Much thicker
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$599

Battery life Much longer battery life
Image stabilization Image stabilization
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Interchangeable lenses Built-in lens only

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Sony NEX-5N.

appearance

Canon EOS M Sony NEX-5N
Canon EOS M Sony NEX-5N
Canon EOS M Sony NEX-5N

discussion

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