Sony NEX-5N

67

Winner

Sony NEX-5N

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Size
Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Light sensitivity
High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.7 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Canon EOS 7D

63

Runner-up

Canon EOS 7D

"Very good low-light performance, low noise levels and good retention of detail"
dpreview.com | talking about the 7D's iso-noise
"Improved button and control layout over 50D/5D Mark II"
dpreview.com | talking about the 7D's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 7D

Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Lens availability
Slightly more lenses available
162 lenses
Battery life
Great battery life
800 shots
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Cross type focus points
Many cross-type focus points
19

differences

Advantages of the Canon 7D

Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
Around 20.5x more lenses available
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 800 shots vs 460 shots
Help
More than 70% 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
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 16 MP
Help
Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
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 7D Learn more about
the Canon 7D

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N

Size Much smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 148x111x74 mm
Help
4.9x smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 2 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
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
Overall image quality Better image quality 77.0 vs 66.0
Help
Around 20% better image quality
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Weight Much lighter 269 g vs 860 g
Help
3.2x lighter
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 11.7 EV
Help
1 f-stop more dynamic range
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 2.9"
Help
Around 50% thinner
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 22 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.6 more bits of color
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 854 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 10 fps vs 8 fps
Help
Around 30% faster continuous shooting
Focus points Slightly more focus points 25 vs 19
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
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 $1,500.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $902 cheaper (2.5x 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 7D Canon EOS 7D
63 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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0
votes
by Ehsan-Sharif1 last month
Nikon D90 vs Sony NEX-5N

I feel like d90 is a little old to use for the next 2-3 years.

0
votes
by Gino-Mauceli last month
Canon 7D vs Olympus E-5

not a beginner nor expert. haven t had a good camera in 15 yrs. no real digital experience. they...

0
votes
by Fernandus-Pramiko this month
Canon 600D vs Canon 7D

1. beginner 2. some unique moments, family 3. I don't know about that

One person recommends the Canon 600D:

" For a beginner I do not see a reason to go for a bigger and heavier "more advanced" tool, so out..."

0
votes
by Con-Graves 3 days ago
Canon 600D vs Sony NEX-5N

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

1
votes
by Magdalene-Linda last month
Panasonic DMC-GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N

I am taking photos of bags in a light tent with two 5500k lights at the side. I need the photos ...

One person recommends the Sony NEX-5N:

" The Sony has a much larger image sensor, which will give you better quality images. If your lig..."

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
7D:1080p @ 30fps
NEX-5N:1080p @ 60fps
True resolution Capture extremely high resolution images Help
7D:17.9 MP
NEX-5N:16 MP
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
7D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
NEX-5N:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
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
7D: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

Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

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

Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

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

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

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

Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
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

Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker

Canon EOS 7D 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

Sensor size Much larger sensor
Overall image quality Better image quality
Cross type focus points Significantly fewer cross-type focus points
Built-in flash No built-in flash
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

Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Sensor size Much larger sensor
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Lens availability Fewer lenses available
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 body only

$1,998 with 16-50mm lens

Autofocus Video autofocus
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Lens availability Significantly fewer lenses available
Battery life Shorter battery life

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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 7D Sony NEX-5N
Canon EOS 7D Sony NEX-5N
Canon EOS 7D Sony NEX-5N

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