Updated (October, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1D X vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

67

Winner

Sony NEX-5N

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Overall image quality
Great image quality
77.0
Size
Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Light sensitivity
High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Color depth
Great color depth
23.6 bits
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

56

"Excellent AF performance during our testing"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's auto-focus
"Good, Full-HD video with a wide range of shooting options"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
400 ms startup delay
Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
1,320 ISO
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-H 27.9x18.6mm
Lens availability
Slightly more lenses available
125 lenses

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
Battery life Much longer battery life 1500 shots vs 460 shots
Help
Around 3.5x more shots per battery charge
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Lens availability Much more lenses available 125 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
More than 15.5x more lenses available
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
4.8x less delay when turning on
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-H 27.9x18.6mm vs APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
Help
More than 40% larger sensor
Focus points More focus points 45 vs 25
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentaprism vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,320 ISO vs 1,079 ISO
Help
The EOS-1D Mark IV has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 104 ms vs 235 ms
Help
2.3x 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-1D Mark IV Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N

Size Much smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 156x157x80 mm
Help
7.9x 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
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
Weight Much lighter 269 g vs 1,230 g
Help
4.6x lighter
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3.1"
Help
2.1x thinner
Lowest price Much cheaper $598.00 vs $4,999.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $4,402 cheaper (8.4x less)
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 77.0 vs 74.0
Help
Almost the same
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 12 EV
Help
0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 22.8 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
56 vs 67
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-5N. 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.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution Very high resolution screens Help
920k dots
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Movie format Full HD (1080p) video Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:1080p @ 30fps
NEX-5N:1080p @ 60fps
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:74.0
NEX-5N:77.0
True resolution Capture extremely high resolution images Help
16 MP
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:APS-H 27.9x18.6mm
NEX-5N:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
Light sensitivity Extremely good maximum light sensitivity Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:12,800 ISO
NEX-5N:25,600 ISO
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:12 EV
NEX-5N:12.7 EV
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Color depth Good color depth Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:22.8 bits
NEX-5N:23.6 bits
Continuous shooting Fast continuous shooting Help
10 fps
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:1,320 ISO
NEX-5N:1,079 ISO
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
EOS-1D Mark IV:1/8000s
NEX-5N:1/4000s
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds
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

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $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
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Light sensitivity (boost) Much lower boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Size Significantly smaller
Cross type focus points Many fewer cross-type focus points
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Size Significantly smaller
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Size Significantly smaller
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Cross type focus points Significantly fewer cross-type focus points
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Battery life Much longer battery life
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Cross type focus points Many fewer cross-type focus points
Size Larger
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Canon EOS-1Ds

Pro DSLR

$9,137 - $9,321 body only

Sensor size Much larger sensor
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Movie format Does not take movies
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 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
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Less startup delay
Supports 24p No 24p support
Touch screen No touch screen
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Touch screen No touch screen
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Startup delay Less startup delay
Weight Slightly lighter
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Supports 24p No 24p support

appearance

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Sony NEX-5N
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Sony NEX-5N
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Sony NEX-5N

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