Canon 5D vs Sony NEX-5N

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D

Much larger sensor

Full frame 36.0x24.0mm

APS-C 23.4x15.6mm

Around 2.5x larger sensor

Much more lenses available

125 lenses

8 lenses

More than 15.5x more lenses available

Has a viewfinder

Pentaprism

None

A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off

Lower noise at high ISO

1,368 ISO

1,079 ISO

The 5D has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance

Faster max shutter speed

1/8000s

1/4000s

2x faster max shutter speed

Learn more about
the Canon 5D

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N

Shoots movies

1080p @ 60fps

None

Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures

Much larger screen

3.0"

2.5"

More than 20% larger screen

Much smaller

111x59x38 mm

152x113x75 mm

5.2x smaller

Better maximum light sensitivity

25,600 ISO

1,600 ISO

The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 4 f-stops better

Much higher resolution screen

920k dots

230k dots

4x higher resolution screen

Has a flip-out screen

Yes

Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies

Has a touch screen

Yes

Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus

Video autofocus

Contrast detection

None

Automatically focuses shooting video

Has live view

Yes

Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them

More dynamic range

12.7 EV

11.1 EV

1.6 f-stops more dynamic range

Much lighter

269 g

895 g

3.3x lighter

Better image quality

77.0

71.0

Around 10% better image quality

Higher true resolution

16 MP

12.7 MP

Capture around 30% more detail in your photos

Shoots faster

10 fps

3 fps

Around 3.5x faster continuous shooting

Significantly thinner

1.5"

Around 50% thinner

Much cheaper

$598.00

$3,991.31

The best price we've seen is $3,393 cheaper (6.7x less)

Better color depth

23.6 bits

22.9 bits

Distinguishes 0.7 more bits of color

Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 5D

48	vs	67
Explain scores

Sony NEX-5N

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.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

Very large sensors

5D:	Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
NEX-5N:	APS-C 23.4x15.6mm

Good image quality

5D:	71.0
NEX-5N:	77.0

	Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these
	Many lenses to choose from

Good color depth

5D:	22.9 bits
NEX-5N:	23.6 bits

	RAW support
	Better editing

Capture very high resolution images

5D:	12.7 MP
NEX-5N:	16 MP

Relatively low noise at high ISO

5D:	1,368 ISO
NEX-5N:	1,079 ISO

	Support external flash
	Better lighting

	Better sensor types
	Better in low light

Fast max shutter speeds

5D:	1/8000s
NEX-5N:	1/4000s

	Long exposures
	30 seconds

	No built-in flash
	Professional

	No image stabilization
	Risk of blur

dxomark

competitors

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Has slightly less startup delay

Has an external mic jack

Has a slower max shutter speed

Is thicker

Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 5D

Compare the D5100 vs the NEX-5N

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

Takes slightly higher resolution photos

Has an external mic jack

Has a slower max shutter speed

Is thicker

Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 5D

Compare the Rebel T3i vs the NEX-5N

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

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

Takes slightly higher resolution photos

Has an external mic jack

Is thicker

Is much heavier

Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 5D

Compare the EOS 60D vs the NEX-5N

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Takes slightly higher resolution photos

Has slightly less startup delay

Has a slower max shutter speed

Is thicker

Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 5D

Compare the Rebel T2i vs the NEX-5N

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Has a weather sealed body

Has slightly less startup delay

Is thicker

Is much heavier

Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D

Compare the D7000 vs the NEX-5N

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Has slightly less startup delay

Slightly more lenses available

Has a slower max shutter speed

Is thicker

Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 5D

Compare the D3100 vs the NEX-5N

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,199

Has a built-in flash

Has a slower max shutter speed

Is slightly more expensive

Compare the FinePix X100 vs the EOS 5D

Compare the FinePix X100 vs the NEX-5N

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

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

Shoots movies

Much larger screen

Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 5D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

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

Shoots movies

Much larger screen

Much smaller sensor

Worse image quality

Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D

Canon EOS 50D

Pro DSLR

$1,282 - $1,330 body only

Much larger screen

Much higher resolution screen

Much smaller sensor

Worse image quality

Compare the EOS 50D vs the EOS 5D

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

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

Has an external mic jack

Much higher true resolution

No touch screen

Worse maximum light sensitivity

Compare the NEX-7 vs the NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Less startup delay

No 24p support

No touch screen

Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX-5N

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

Records high-speed movies

Shoots much faster

Worse maximum light sensitivity

Significantly worse image quality

Compare the 1 J1 vs the NEX-5N

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

Has an external mic jack

Built-in flash

No touch screen

Doesn't focus continuously recording movies

Compare the NEX-F3 vs the NEX-5N

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Less startup delay

Slightly lighter

Lower resolution movies

No 24p support

Compare the NEX C3 vs the NEX-5N

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Canon EOS5D vs SonyNEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Canon EOS 5D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

dxomark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon EOS 60D

Canon Rebel T2i

Nikon D7000

Nikon D3100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Canon EOS 5D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 50D

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-7

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Nikon 1 J1

Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX C3

appearance

discussion

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Canon EOS
5D
vs
Sony
NEX-5N