Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Canon PowerShot G10 vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-5

54

"The system for manually positioning AF points is quick and easy to use."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's auto-focus
"High quality video mode"
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
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
Canon PowerShot G10

51

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G10

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Tunnel
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
Usually standard

differences

Advantages of the Canon G10

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
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
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 14.6 MP vs 14 MP
Help
Almost the same
Canon PowerShot G10 Learn more about
the Canon G10

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

Overall image quality Much better image quality 69.0 vs 37.0
Help
Around 90% better image quality
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 461k dots
Help
Around 2x higher resolution screen
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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10 EV
Help
2.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 22.2 bits vs 19 bits
Help
Distinguishes 3.2 more bits of color
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
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
Around 8.5x larger sensor
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 796 ISO vs 156 ISO
Help
The NEX-5 has excellent image quality 2.4 f-stops higher ISO than the G10
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 0.7 fps
Help
10x faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 109x78x46 mm
Help
Around 40% smaller
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Weight Lighter 287 g vs 390 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 1.8"
Help
Around 20% thinner
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
2x longer exposures
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 G10 Canon PowerShot G10
51 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-5. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro digicam with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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1
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by Matthew-Kim last month
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by Phil-Hand last month
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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
G10:14.6 MP
NEX-5:14 MP
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second

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

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Weight Is slightly heavier
True resolution Takes significantly lower resolution photos
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
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
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
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,199

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$339

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
True resolution Takes significantly lower resolution photos
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay

Canon PowerShot G10 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot G11

Canon PowerShot G11

Pro digicam

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen size Smaller screen
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Movie format Higher resolution movies
True resolution Lower true resolution
Macro focus Worse macro capability
Canon PowerShot G9

Canon PowerShot G9

Pro digicam

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Slightly smaller
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
Nikon Coolpix P7000

Nikon Coolpix P7000

Pro digicam

$249

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
Macro focus Worse macro capability

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

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

True resolution Much higher true resolution
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
Weight Heavier
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 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 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

appearance

Canon PowerShot G10 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot G10 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot G10 Sony Alpha NEX-5

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