Canon G12 vs Sony NEX-5N

differences

Advantages of the Canon G12

Image stabilization

Lens

None

Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements

Built-in flash

Yes

A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light

Has a viewfinder

Tunnel

None

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

Learn more about
the Canon G12

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N

Significantly better image quality

77.0

47.0

More than 60% better image quality

Better maximum light sensitivity

25,600 ISO

3,200 ISO

The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better

Significantly higher resolution screen

920k dots

461k dots

Around 2x higher resolution screen

Has a touch screen

Yes

Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus

Better color depth

23.6 bits

20.4 bits

Distinguishes 3.2 more bits of color

Takes 3D photos

Yes

Combines multiple photos into a 3D image

Larger screen

3.0"

2.8"

Around 10% larger screen

Can create panoramas in-camera

Yes

Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective

More dynamic range

12.7 EV

11.2 EV

1.5 f-stops more dynamic range

Significantly larger sensor

APS-C 23.4x15.6mm

1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm

Around 8.5x larger sensor

Significantly higher true resolution

16 MP

10 MP

Capture more than 60% more detail in your photos

Higher resolution movies

1080p @ 60fps

720p @ 24fps

Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate

Significantly lower noise at high ISO

1,079 ISO

161 ISO

The NEX-5N has excellent image quality 2.7 f-stops higher ISO than the G12

Has interchangeable lenses

Yes

Can take advantage of a variety of lenses

Shoots faster

10 fps

2 fps

5x faster continuous shooting

Less startup delay

1900 ms

2700 ms

Around 30% less delay when turning on

Smaller

111x59x38 mm

112x76x48 mm

Around 40% smaller

Has a CMOS-family sensor

CMOS

CCD

CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images

Longer battery life

460 shots

350 shots

More than 30% more shots per battery charge

Lighter

269 g

401 g

More than 30% lighter

Less shutter lag

235 ms

380 ms

Around 40% less delay when taking photos

Thinner

1.5"

1.9"

More than 20% thinner

Slightly cheaper

$649.95

$971.00

The best price we've seen is $321 cheaper (more than 30% less)

Longer exposures

30s

15s

2x longer exposures

Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G12

55	vs	63
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 digicam with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

	Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these
	For that film look

	Flip-out screens
	Great for movies

	In-camera HDR
	Combines multiple exposures

	Supports RAW
	Better editing

	Support external flash
	Better lighting

	Fast max shutter speeds
	1/4000 of a second

Significant startup delay

G12:	2700 ms
NEX-5N:	1900 ms

dxomark

competitors

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Pro digicam

$648 - $760

Has a significantly wider aperture

Has a slightly higher resolution screen

Has a slower max shutter speed

Doesn't support an external flash

Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the PowerShot G12

Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 - $743 with 18-55mm lens

Has slightly less startup delay

Has slightly more shutter lag

Doesn't record movies in 24p

Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the PowerShot G12

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

Canon EOS M

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$479 - $599 with 22mm lens

Has an external mic jack

Much more lenses available

Has significantly more shutter lag

Has a slightly shorter battery life

Compare the EOS M vs the PowerShot G12

Compare the EOS M vs the NEX-5N

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$595 - $599 with 18-55mm lens

Has an external mic jack

Much more lenses available

Is thicker

Is significantly heavier

Compare the Rebel T3i vs the PowerShot G12

Compare the Rebel T3i vs the NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens

Has slightly less startup delay

Has an external mic jack

Has slightly more shutter lag

Doesn't record movies in 24p

Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the PowerShot G12

Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the NEX-5N

Canon PowerShot G15

Pro digicam

$499

Significantly wider aperture

Significantly higher resolution screen

Screen does not flip out

Worse color depth

Compare the PowerShot G15 vs the PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$599

Significantly higher resolution screen

Better image quality

Much worse macro capability

Larger

Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the PowerShot G12

Nikon Coolpix P7100

Pro digicam

$393 - $479

Has an external mic jack

Significantly higher resolution screen

No 24p support

Worse image quality

Compare the Coolpix P7100 vs the PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G11

Pro digicam

Much longer battery life

Slightly less startup delay

No 24p support

Lacks in-camera HDR

Compare the PowerShot G11 vs the PowerShot G12

Nikon Coolpix P7700

Pro digicam

$389 - $447

Significantly wider aperture

Has an external mic jack

No 24p support

No viewfinder

Compare the Coolpix P7700 vs the PowerShot G12

Sony NEX-5R

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$498 body only

$598 with 18-55mm lens

Faster autofocus

Many more focus points

Shorter battery life

Slightly more noise at high ISO

Compare the NEX-5R vs the NEX-5N

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 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-6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$648 body only

$798 with 16-50mm lens

Faster autofocus

Many more focus points

No touch screen

Doesn't take 3D photos

Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the NEX-5N

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$495 - $730 with 18-55mm lens

Built-in flash

Less startup delay

No touch screen

Doesn't focus continuously recording movies

Compare the NEX-F3 vs the NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens

Image stabilization

Built-in flash

Significantly lower resolution screen

No touch screen

Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the NEX-5N

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Sony NEX-5N

vs

Canon PowerShot G12

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G12

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

differences

Advantages of the Canon G12

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

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Canon EOS M

Canon Rebel T3i

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot G15

Canon PowerShot G1X

Nikon Coolpix P7100

Canon PowerShot G11

Nikon Coolpix P7700

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-7

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Sony NEX-F3

Sony Alpha NEX-3N

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discussion

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