Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Canon PowerShot G12 vs Sony NEX-5N

Canon PowerShot G11

55

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G11

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Tunnel
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
Usually standard
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
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
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures

differences

Advantages of the Canon G11

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
Canon PowerShot G11 Learn more about
the Canon G11

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 69.0 vs 47.0
Help
Around 50% better image quality
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 461k dots
Help
Around 2x higher resolution screen
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
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
Around 10% larger screen
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
Color depth Better color depth 22.2 bits vs 20.4 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.8 more bits of color
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
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 169 ISO
Help
The NEX-5 has excellent image quality 2.2 f-stops higher ISO than the G11
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 1.1 fps
Help
Around 6.5x faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 112x76x48 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 375 g
Help
More than 20% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 1.9"
Help
More than 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 G11 Canon PowerShot G11
55 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation. 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

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Canon G11 or the Sony NEX-5,
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!

1
votes
by Matthew-Kim last month
Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-5

I am a beginner but woudl like to take quality pictures of my kids.

One person recommends the Sony NEX-5N:

"Hi Matthew, I think both of these cameras would be awesome. The Sony NEX cameras are really small ..."

0
votes
by 11111111111111111 last month
Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-5

Hello, I need some advice. I am deciding between the two cameras. The frst one is Sony NEX 5...

2
votes
by Alex-Jenkins last month
Sony DSC-HX9v vs Sony NEX-5

I'm a beginner who's been using an old Nikon D70 for last 7 years - in auto mode only. I want s...

0
votes
by Mark-Ballard last week
Panasonic DMC-GX1 vs Sony NEX-5

Hey everyone. I'm a pretty unexperienced amateur that currently uses a Samsung NX10 normally wit...

0
votes
by Julie-Maddams-Huggins last month
Canon G11 vs Canon G12

I love taking pictures of my family , particularly when we're on holidays or just playing around i...

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
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
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
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
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Touch screen Has a touch screen
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
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
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Lens availability Much more lenses available
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker

Canon PowerShot G11 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot G10

Canon PowerShot G10

Pro digicam

Screen size Larger screen
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Macro focus Worse macro capability
Nikon Coolpix P7000

Nikon Coolpix P7000

Pro digicam

$249

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Canon PowerShot G9

Canon PowerShot G9

Pro digicam

Screen size Larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Much more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Much larger
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen

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 G11 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot G11 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot G11 Sony Alpha NEX-5

discussion

Showing 0 comments