Updated (September, 2011): Compare the Canon Powershot S100 vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

67

Winner

Sony NEX-5N

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Overall image quality
Great image quality
77.0
Light sensitivity
High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Color depth
Great color depth
23.6 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.7 EV
Canon PowerShot S95

62

"Image quality is still excellent, with a usable ISO range of 80-800 and fast f/2.0 maximum aperture, albeit only at the wide-angle lens setting, making the S95 very well-suited to low-light, hand-held photography."
photographyblog.com | talking about the S95's iso-noise
"Something that was glaringly missing from the S90 - HD video capture - has been rectified on the S95, with 720p movies at 1280x720 pixels resolution available at 24fps complete with stereo sound."
photographyblog.com | talking about the S95's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S95

Size
Really small
Compact 99x58x29 mm
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Thickness
Thin
1.2"
Weight
Light-weight
193 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon S95

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 99x58x29 mm vs 111x59x38 mm
Help
More than 30% smaller
Weight Lighter 193 g vs 269 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.2" vs 1.5"
Help
More than 20% thinner
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $340.00 vs $598.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $258 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Canon PowerShot S95 Learn more about
the Canon S95

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N

Overall image quality Much better image quality 77.0 vs 47.0
Help
More than 60% better image quality
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 60fps 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
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
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 20.4 bits
Help
Distinguishes 3.2 more bits of color
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture more than 60% more detail in your photos
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
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 153 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N has excellent image quality 2.8 f-stops higher ISO than the S95
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
1.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 1.9 fps
Help
Around 5.5x faster continuous shooting
Battery life Longer battery life 460 shots vs 200 shots
Help
Around 2.5x more shots per battery charge
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 235 ms vs 610 ms
Help
2.6x less delay when taking photos
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
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 1900 ms vs 2200 ms
Help
More than 10% less delay when turning on
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 NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot S95 Canon PowerShot S95
62 vs 67
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow 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.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
HDR Both have in-camera, most cameras like these don't Help
Combines multiple exposures
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

Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
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
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p

Canon PowerShot S95 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350

Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Macro focus Significantly better macro capability
Supports 24p No 24p support
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Olympus XZ-1

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$499 - $500

Screen type Has an OLED screen
Aperture Wider aperture
Supports 24p No 24p support
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Travel zoom

$319 - $330

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Aperture Much narrower aperture
Supports 24p No 24p support
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Macro focus Significantly better macro capability
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Screen size Smaller screen
Nikon Coolpix P300

Nikon Coolpix P300

Pro digicam

$299

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Supports 24p No 24p support
Supports RAW No RAW support

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Touch screen No touch screen
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Autofocus Faster autofocus
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Startup delay Less startup delay
Weight Slightly lighter
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Supports 24p No 24p support
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

Autofocus Faster autofocus
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Size Much larger
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity

appearance

Canon PowerShot S95 Sony NEX-5N
Canon PowerShot S95 Sony NEX-5N
Canon PowerShot S95 Sony NEX-5N

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