Updated (August, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Sony NEX-5R

Canon PowerShot G1X

76

vs
Sony NEX-5N

63

Sony NEX-5N
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G1X

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Battery life
 Great battery life
700 shots
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Tunnel
 

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
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Canon G1X
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Battery life Longer battery life 700 shots vs 460 shots
Help
 More than 50% more shots per battery charge
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Tunnel vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Canon PowerShot G1X Learn more about
the Canon G1X

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N
Overall image quality Better image quality 77.0 vs 60.0
Help
 Around 30% better image quality
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
 1.9 f-stops more dynamic range
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
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
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 117x81x65 mm
Help
 2.5x smaller
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 1.9 fps
Help
 Around 5.5x faster continuous shooting
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.9 more bits of color
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 235 ms vs 697 ms
Help
 3x less delay when taking photos
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 644 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5N has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 18.7x14.0mm
Help
 Around 40% larger sensor
True resolution Higher true resolution 16 MP vs 14.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 2.6"
Help
 More than 40% thinner
Weight Lighter 269 g vs 390 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G1X Canon PowerShot G1X
76 vs 63
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot G1X. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a boutique with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
920k dots
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Light sensitivity Very good maximum light sensitivity Help
G1X:12,800 ISO
NEX-5N:25,600 ISO
Sensor size Large sensors Help
G1X:Four thirds 18.7x14.0mm
NEX-5N:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
G1X:14.2 MP
NEX-5N:16 MP
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Battery life Great battery life Help
G1X:700 shots
NEX-5N:460 shots
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
1/4000 of a second
Startup delay Significant startup delay Help
1900 ms startup delay

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Pro digicam

$648 - $760
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the NEX-5N
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Compare the NEX-7 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the NEX-7 vs the NEX-5N
Canon EOS M

Canon EOS M

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$479 - $599 with 22mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Compare the EOS M vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the EOS M vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-6

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$648 body only

$798 with 16-50mm lens
Startup delay Has significantly less startup delay
Autofocus Focuses automatically
Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the NEX-5N
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$595 - $599 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the NEX-5N
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$585 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has significantly less startup delay
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the D5100 vs the NEX-5N
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$768 with 14-42mm lens
Startup delay Has significantly less startup delay
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously while recording movies
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the NEX-5N

Canon PowerShot G1X Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot G15

Canon PowerShot G15

Pro digicam

$499
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Macro focus Much better macro capability
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the PowerShot G15 vs the PowerShot G1X
Nikon Coolpix P7700

Nikon Coolpix P7700

Pro digicam

$389 - $447
Macro focus Much better macro capability
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Supports 24p No 24p support
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Compare the Coolpix P7700 vs the PowerShot G1X
Fujifilm FinePix x20

Fujifilm FinePix x20

Pro digicam

$599
Macro focus Much better macro capability
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the FinePix x20 vs the PowerShot G1X
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$971
Macro focus Much better macro capability
Size Smaller
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the PowerShot G1X
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Super zoom

$369 - $450
Zoom Much more zoom
Macro focus Much better macro capability
Aperture Narrower aperture
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the PowerShot G1X

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5R

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$498 body only

$598 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Focus points Many more focus points
Battery life Shorter battery life
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Compare the NEX-5R vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 - $743 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 NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$495 - $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
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the NEX-5N

appearance

Canon PowerShot G1X Sony NEX-5N
Canon PowerShot G1X Sony NEX-5N
Canon PowerShot G1X Sony NEX-5N

discussion

Showing 3 comments

Zzeke (6:17 PM, February 06, 2012)
This is comparing apples and oranges. You are rating the G1 X with its (nondetachable) zoom lens against the Sony body only. So the Canon gets over 50 extra points due to its lens scores. The Sony is readily available with E 18-55 mm a kit lens, and the most valid comparison would be with that version. Take away the lens scores, and the Sony easily beats the Canon on your comparison.

However, the Sony is notorious for the loud clicking noise it imparts to video recordings (see youTube and Amazon reviews), which makes the camera undesirable for many users.
 
Kn_97 (5:23 AM, February 03, 2012)
That's what I want to know according to the points above.  
 
Omerfarooq (6:07 PM, February 01, 2012)
how G1X Won?