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
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.7 EV
Canon EOS 50D

43

Runner-up

Canon EOS 50D

"Nine point auto focus system accurate, even in low light"
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's auto-focus
"The EOS 50D has to stand its ground in a highly competitive bracket of the DSLR market."
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 50D

Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Lens availability
Many lenses available
162 lenses
Battery life
Great battery life
640 shots
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Pentaprism
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed

differences

Advantages of the Canon 50D

Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
Around 20.5x more lenses available
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
6.3x less delay when turning on
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
Battery life Longer battery life 640 shots vs 460 shots
Help
Around 40% more shots per battery charge
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 131 ms vs 235 ms
Help
More than 40% 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 50D Learn more about
the Canon 50D

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N

Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 60fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Size Much smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 146x108x74 mm
Help
4.7x smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
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
Overall image quality Better image quality 77.0 vs 63.0
Help
More than 20% better image quality
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
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 11.4 EV
Help
1.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Weight Much lighter 269 g vs 822 g
Help
3.1x lighter
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 21.8 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.8 more bits of color
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 696 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 2.9"
Help
Around 50% thinner
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 6.3 fps
Help
Around 60% faster continuous shooting
True resolution Higher true resolution 16 MP vs 15.1 MP
Help
Capture around 10% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
Around 10% larger sensor
Lowest price Cheaper $598.00 vs $1,281.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $684 cheaper (2.1x 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 50D Canon EOS 50D
43 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

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Canon 50D or the Sony NEX-5N,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

0
votes
by Scott-Harmon last week
Canon T3i vs Canon 50D

i am taking my wife on an Alaskan cruise.  I keep thinking just take my 50D and not my video, bu...

2 people recommend the Canon T3i:

" I get a chuckle when Adorama in NYC lists Canon 50D as "vintage" but in a way that seems fitting..."

" Canon is the leader in the DSLR video market, and the Canon T3i is one of the best entry level D..."

0
votes
by jynielsen 4 days ago
Canon T3i vs Sony NEX-5N

We need a camera for product photos (to be used in marketing materials, such as trade show banne...

0
votes
by Jaimenez last month
Canon T3i vs Sony NEX-5N

I really want the ability to control exposure/aperture on the fly

0
votes
by Con-Graves 2 days ago
Canon 600D vs Sony NEX-5N

intermediate user who is interested in photography, landscapes, travel and developing creative s...

2
votes
by Char-Sevig last month
Canon 50D vs Canon 5D Mark II

I currently have a canon xsi, with several lenses. A canon 70-200mm f/4 L ,55-250mm, 50mm 1.8 ,18-...

One person recommends the Canon 5D Mark II:

"I recently upgraded from the XSi to the 5D Mark II and couldn't be happier. As I'm sure you know, ..."

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution Very high resolution screens Help
920k dots
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
50D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
NEX-5N:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
50D:15.1 MP
NEX-5N:16 MP
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
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
50D:1/8000s
NEX-5N:1/4000s
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
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
Thickness Is thicker
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
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
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
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker

Canon EOS 50D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Overall image quality Better image quality
True resolution Lower true resolution
Cross type focus points Fewer cross-type focus points
Canon EOS 40D

Canon EOS 40D

Pro DSLR

$650 body only

Color depth Better color depth
Lowest price Cheaper
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

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

Movie format Shoots movies
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Size Slightly larger
Weight Slightly heavier
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

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

Movie format Shoots movies
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Cross type focus points Fewer cross-type focus points

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 50D Sony NEX-5N
Canon EOS 50D Sony NEX-5N
Canon EOS 50D Sony NEX-5N

discussion

Showing 0 comments