Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS vs Sony NEX-7

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 resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Size
Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
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
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

53

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX1 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 SX1 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
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Learn more about
the Canon SX1 IS

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
Size Significantly smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 128x88x88 mm
Help
4x smaller
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
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
Around 13x larger sensor
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
Around 10% larger screen
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14 MP vs 9.8 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
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3.5"
Help
2.3x thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 287 g vs 615 g
Help
2.1x lighter
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 4 fps
Help
Around 80% faster continuous shooting
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
2x longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/3200s
Help
20% faster max shutter speed
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 SX1 IS Canon PowerShot SX1 IS
53 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation. 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.

advice

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1
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by Matthew-Kim last month
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by Phil-Hand last month
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I am a bit confused. Not hard for an amateur in such a complicated field. I see that the Nikon D51...

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 30fps
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
SX1 IS:1/3200s
NEX-5:1/4000s

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
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
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
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Weight Is slightly heavier
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
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS20

Super zoom

$299 - $335

Zoom Significantly more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Size Significantly larger
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Super zoom

$569

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Zoom Significantly more zoom
Size Significantly larger
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Size Larger
Supports RAW No RAW support
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Super zoom

$438 - $500

Zoom Significantly more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Size Significantly larger
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420

Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Size Larger

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 SX1 IS Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Sony Alpha NEX-5

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