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

Canon PowerShot G1X

80

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G1X

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Tunnel
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
Usually standard
Sony Alpha NEX-5

54

Runner-up

Sony Alpha NEX-5

"With noise (and noise reduction in the JPEGs), kept well controlled up to ISO 3200, and giving very usable results even at 6400."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's iso-noise
"With its magnesium alloy body has a level of build that's pretty much untouchable for the money."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
1000 ms startup delay
Color depth
Great color depth
22.2 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.4x15.6mm

differences

Advantages of the Canon G1X

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
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 Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
Canon PowerShot G1X Learn more about
the Canon G1X

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
1.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 117x81x65 mm
Help
2.5x smaller
Overall image quality Better image quality 69.0 vs 60.0
Help
Around 20% better image quality
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 1.9 fps
Help
More than 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 18.7x14.0mm
Help
Around 40% larger sensor
Color depth Better color depth 22.2 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 2.6"
Help
More than 40% thinner
Battery life Longer battery life 330 shots vs 250 shots
Help
More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 796 ISO vs 644 ISO
Help
The NEX-5 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Weight Lighter 287 g vs 390 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $569.00 vs $799.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $230 cheaper (around 30% less)
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G1X Canon PowerShot G1X
80 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
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.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution Very high resolution screens Help
920k dots
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Movie format Full HD (1080p) video Help
G1X:1080p @ 24fps
NEX-5:1080p @ 30fps
HDR Both have in-camera, most cameras like these don't Help
Combines multiple exposures
Light sensitivity Extremely good maximum light sensitivity Help
12,800 ISO
Sensor size Large sensors Help
G1X:Four thirds 18.7x14.0mm
NEX-5:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
G1X:14.2 MP
NEX-5:14 MP
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
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
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
G1X:60s
NEX-5:30s

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Macro focus Much closer macro focusing
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$739 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,199

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Macro focus Much closer macro focusing
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker

Canon PowerShot G1X Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$372 - $430

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Macro focus Much better macro capability
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Size Slightly larger
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$689 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Autofocus Faster autofocus
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor

appearance

Canon PowerShot G1X Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot G1X Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot G1X Sony Alpha NEX-5

discussion

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