Canon PowerShot
S1 IS
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Canon PowerShot S1 IS vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-5

54
"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

Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Placeholder

36

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S1 IS

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Digital
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
Usually standard

differences

Advantages of the Canon S1 IS
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 Digital vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Placeholder Learn more about
the Canon S1 IS

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 1.5"
Help
 2x larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 114k dots
Help
 More than 8x higher resolution screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution 14 MP vs 3.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 4.5x more detail in your photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 400 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 5 f-stops better
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs 1/3.6" 5.3x4.0mm
Help
 Around 17.5x larger sensor
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 111x78x66 mm
Help
 2.3x smaller
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
 Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 1.7 fps
Help
 More than 4x faster continuous shooting
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 2.6"
Help
 More than 40% thinner
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Weight Lighter 287 g vs 469 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
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

Placeholder Canon PowerShot S1 IS
36 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 super zoom with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies

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

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the PowerShot S1 IS
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$797 - $947 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Panorama Lacks a built in panoramas
Compare the 1 V1 vs the PowerShot S1 IS
Compare the 1 V1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496
Wide angle Has a much wider wide angle lens
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Weight Is slightly heavier
Panorama Lacks a built in panoramas
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the PowerShot S1 IS
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Canon PowerShot S1 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix S9100

Nikon Coolpix S9100

Travel zoom

$237 - $289
Screen size Much larger screen
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the Coolpix S9100 vs the PowerShot S1 IS
Canon PowerShot SX150 IS

Canon PowerShot SX150 IS

Travel zoom

$136 - $179
Screen size Much larger screen
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the PowerShot SX150 IS vs the PowerShot S1 IS
Canon PowerShot S2 IS

Canon PowerShot S2 IS

Super zoom
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Wide angle Better wide angle
Size Slightly larger
Thickness Thicker
Compare the PowerShot S2 IS vs the PowerShot S1 IS
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420
Screen size Much larger screen
Zoom Much more zoom
Size Significantly larger
Thickness Significantly thicker
Compare the PowerShot SX30 IS vs the PowerShot S1 IS
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Super zoom

$742
Screen size Much larger screen
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Compare the PowerShot SX20 IS vs the PowerShot S1 IS

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the NEX C3 vs the Alpha NEX-5

appearance

Placeholder Sony Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-5

discussion

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