Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Sony NEX-5N

Canon PowerShot G12

64

"Excellent build quality"
dpreview.com | talking about the G12's build-quality
"We have no hesitation in saying that the G12 is the best Canon G-series camera to date, but its original USP - as a bridge between compact cameras and DSLRs - is in danger of being eroded."
dpreview.com | talking about the G12's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G12

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Macro focus
Great macro
1 cm
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Tunnel
Sony Alpha NEX-5

54

Runner-up

Sony Alpha NEX-5

"High quality video mode"
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's video-quality
"The NEX's image quality is consistent with previous Sonys - generally rather good though not quite as good as the raw sensor data shows it could be."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Overall image quality
Great image quality
69.0
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
1000 ms startup delay
Color depth
Great color depth
22.2 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV

differences

Advantages of the Canon G12

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
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
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 370 shots vs 330 shots
Help
More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $389.99 vs $569.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $179 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Canon PowerShot G12 Learn more about
the Canon G12

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 69.0 vs 47.0
Help
Around 50% better image quality
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
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
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 11.2 EV
Help
1 f-stop 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 161 ISO
Help
The NEX-5 has excellent image quality 2.3 f-stops higher ISO than the G12
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 112x76x48 mm
Help
Around 40% smaller
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 2 fps
Help
3.5x faster continuous shooting
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Weight Lighter 287 g vs 401 g
Help
Around 30% 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 G12 Canon PowerShot G12
64 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot G12. 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
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 Kathy-Smith last month
Canon G12 vs Olympus XZ-1

My last camera was a CANON A90. It no longer works.

One person recommends the Canon G12:

"Both cameras can shoot RAW images, but I think I would lean toward to the G12 because it is a bit ..."

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...

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
HDR Both have in-camera, most cameras like these don't Help
Combines multiple exposures
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

Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
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
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
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
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
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
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Lens availability Much more lenses available
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
Battery life Shorter battery life
Nikon Coolpix P7100

Nikon Coolpix P7100

Pro digicam

$450

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Much more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Much larger
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Supports 24p No 24p support
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Screen size Larger screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Macro focus Significantly worse macro capability

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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-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 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 G12 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot G12 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot G12 Sony Alpha NEX-5

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Bwb896 (6:13 PM, January 26, 2012)
the Sony NEX cameras have image stabilization in the lens