Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Canon PowerShot S95 vs Sony NEX-5N

Canon PowerShot S90

59

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S90

Size
Really small
Compact 100x58x30 mm
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Thickness
Thin
1.2"
Weight
Light-weight
198 g
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
Usually standard
Sony Alpha NEX-5

54

Runner-up

Sony Alpha NEX-5

"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

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
3D
Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions

differences

Advantages of the Canon S90

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
Size Slightly smaller 100x58x30 mm vs 111x59x38 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Weight Lighter 198 g vs 287 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.2" vs 1.5"
Help
Around 20% thinner
Canon PowerShot S90 Learn more about
the Canon S90

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 46.0
Help
50% better image quality
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
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
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 20.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 2 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 EV
Help
1.2 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 185 ISO
Help
The NEX-5 has excellent image quality 2.1 f-stops higher ISO than the S90
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 0.9 fps
Help
Around 8x faster continuous shooting
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
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/1600s
Help
2.5x 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

Canon PowerShot S90 Canon PowerShot S90
59 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot S90. 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:

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by daisymanhn 12 hours ago
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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing

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

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared 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 faster continuously
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
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly 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
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$339

Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay

Canon PowerShot S90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389

Supports 24p Supports 24p
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Pro digicam

$555

Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Olympus XZ-1

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$499 - $500

Screen type Has an OLED screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Nikon Coolpix P300

Nikon Coolpix P300

Pro digicam

$299

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Supports RAW No RAW support
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO

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
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 S90 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot S90 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot S90 Sony Alpha NEX-5

discussion

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