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

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

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
Usually standard
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
Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Color depth
Great color depth
22.2 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies

differences

Advantages of the Canon S95

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
Size Slightly smaller 99x58x29 mm vs 111x59x38 mm
Help
More than 30% smaller
Weight Lighter 193 g vs 287 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
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
Thickness Thinner 1.2" vs 1.5"
Help
More than 20% thinner
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $340.00 vs $569.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $229 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Canon PowerShot S95 Learn more about
the Canon S95

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
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
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
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
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 153 ISO
Help
The NEX-5 has excellent image quality 2.4 f-stops higher ISO than the S95
Startup delay Less startup delay 1000 ms vs 2200 ms
Help
2.2x less delay when turning on
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 1.9 fps
Help
More than 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Battery life Longer battery life 330 shots vs 200 shots
Help
Around 70% more shots per battery charge
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
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 441 ms vs 610 ms
Help
Around 30% less delay when taking photos
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 S95 Canon PowerShot S95
62 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot S95. 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
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

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
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Macro focus Slightly closer macro focusing
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
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
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Macro focus Slightly closer macro focusing
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
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
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier

Canon PowerShot S95 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
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
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 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-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 S95 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot S95 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot S95 Sony Alpha NEX-5

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