Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Canon PowerShot SX30 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 SX20 IS

51

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX20 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 SX20 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 SX20 IS Learn more about
the Canon SX20 IS

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
More than 20% larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Size Significantly smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 128x88x87 mm
Help
3.9x 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
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
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 0.7 fps
Help
10x faster continuous shooting
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3.4"
Help
2.3x thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 287 g vs 600 g
Help
2.1x lighter
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
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
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $569.00 vs $742.23
Help
The best price we've seen is $173 cheaper (more than 20% less)
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 SX20 IS Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
51 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.

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:

"Hi Matthew, I think both of these cameras would be awesome. The Sony NEX cameras are really small ..."

0
votes
by 11111111111111111 last month
Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-5

Hello, I need some advice. I am deciding between the two cameras. The frst one is Sony NEX 5...

2
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by Alex-Jenkins last month
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I'm a beginner who's been using an old Nikon D70 for last 7 years - in auto mode only. I want s...

0
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by Mark-Ballard last week
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Hey everyone. I'm a pretty unexperienced amateur that currently uses a Samsung NX10 normally wit...

1
votes
by Phil-Hand last month
Nikon D5100 vs Sony NEX-5

I am a bit confused. Not hard for an amateur in such a complicated field. I see that the Nikon D51...

One person recommends the Nikon D5100:

"Hi Phil, these are both great cameras. I'd recommend the Nikon D5100 because there are so many mor..."

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
SX20 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

Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
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
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
Weight Is slightly heavier
Color depth Has significantly less color depth
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Lens availability Much more lenses available
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Much more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420

Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Nikon Coolpix P100

Nikon Coolpix P100

Super zoom

Screen size Much larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
External flash No external flash support
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

Super zoom

$644

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Super zoom

Size Smaller
Aperture Slightly wider aperture
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Zoom Less zoom

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
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
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

appearance

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Sony Alpha NEX-5

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