Fujifilm FinePix
X100
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Fujifilm FinePix X100 vs Sony NEX-7

Fujifilm FinePix X100

70
"As a high-end retro-styled camera with a fixed focal length lens, the X100 was always going to have niche appeal."
dpreview.com | talking about the X100's overall-performance
"Ground-breaking hybrid viewfinder works extremely well - large, bright and clear, with detailed exposure information in optical finder"
dpreview.com | talking about the X100's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Fujifilm FinePix X100

Aperture
 Wide aperture
f/2.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.4 EV
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Tunnel
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

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
Interchangeable lenses
 Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from

differences

Advantages of the Fujifilm X100
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 73.0 vs 69.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
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 Tunnel vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,001 ISO vs 796 ISO
Help
 The X100 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 22.9 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.7 more bits of color
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
Fujifilm FinePix X100 Learn more about
the Fujifilm X100

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
 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
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 1000 ms vs 3200 ms
Help
 3.2x less delay when turning on
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 127x75x54 mm
Help
 2.1x smaller
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 11 MP
Help
 Capture around 30% more detail in your photos
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 7 fps vs 5 fps
Help
 40% faster continuous shooting
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 2.1"
Help
 Around 30% thinner
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 330 shots vs 300 shots
Help
 10% more shots per battery charge
Lowest price Cheaper $569.00 vs $1,199.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $630 cheaper (2.1x less)
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Fujifilm FinePix X100 Fujifilm FinePix X100
70 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Fujifilm FinePix X100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a boutique with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
X100:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
NEX-5:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
X100:12.4 EV
NEX-5:12.2 EV
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Color depth Good color depth Help
X100:22.9 bits
NEX-5:22.2 bits
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
1/4000 of a second
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the FinePix X100
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599
Wide angle Has a much wider wide angle lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the FinePix X100
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the NEX-7 vs the FinePix X100
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800
Wide angle Has a much wider wide angle lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the FinePix X100
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the FinePix X100
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the FinePix X100
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$797 - $947 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the 1 V1 vs the FinePix X100
Compare the 1 V1 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Fujifilm FinePix X100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Fujifilm X-Pro1

Fujifilm X-Pro1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,991 - $2,298 body only
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Lowest price More expensive
Compare the X-Pro1 vs the FinePix X100
Leica M9

Leica M9

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$6,995 body only
Sensor size Much larger sensor
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Movie format Does not take movies
Compare the M9 vs the FinePix X100
Leica X2

Leica X2

Boutique

$2,620 - $2,621
Wide angle Much better wide angle
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
Compare the X2 vs the FinePix X100
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,000 - $1,299 body only

$1,100 with 14-42mm lens
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Sensor size Smaller sensor
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the FinePix X100

Sony Alpha NEX-5 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 much faster
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the NEX C3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-5

appearance

Fujifilm FinePix X100 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Fujifilm FinePix X100 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-5

discussion

Showing 3 comments

Brendon Zhang (0:32 PM, May 31, 2011)
Thx, I think I will go with nex, more compact and versatile. I'm no pro photographer, I just want something thats small and takes good pictures so that I can take it out and actually use it often. I have a DSLR but I rarely touch it bc of it's size :) I think nex is targeting ppl like me while x100 is aiming for more advanced photographers
 
Nonner (6:16 PM, May 30, 2011)
Completely different feeling and purpose. By now many would agree with me that the X100 has slow focus and the shortest distance (if not in Macro mode) is not best for close up portraits. However the X100 manual control and buttons is so much fun to use and it brings the joy in photography not just at finding the right moment but a good challenge to mix and match the settings to get it right. The Nex on the other hand has less than best lens quality and the images are a bit soft. The manual settings takes a while to get used to but it lacks the fun of a manual camera. Overall, I use the X100 when i'm in the mood for a relaxing day with the time to enjoy taking quality shots. The Nex I take out on a daily basis mostly with the huge 18-200 to capture work-related landscape pictures. I have the 5DMII which is used specifically on trips and when I need excellent quality images (and have enough energy to carry it with the 70-200 f2.8).

So sum up ... its really the taste of your photography style that would best determine what is best for u. Pure shots without hassel - the Nex ... absolute fun and ease on the shoulder to carry - the X100. .... for me ... i cant live without all three :)

 
 
Brendon Zhang (2:47 AM, May 23, 2011)
I am considering either a fuji x100 or nex-c3 that's going to be released soon. Which one is better? Suggestions? Thanks.