Nikon 1
V1
 vs
Sony
NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

100
Winner

Sony NEX-5N

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,079 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
77.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.6 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.7 EV
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Nikon 1 V1

61
Runner-up

Nikon 1 V1

Reasons to buy the Nikon 1 V1

Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Digital
High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
1,200 fps
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
60 fps
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
 Phase detection video autofocus
fast and accurate
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
97 ms shutter lag

differences

Advantages of the Nikon V1
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 1,200 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 60 fps vs 10 fps
Help
 6x faster continuous shooting
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Focus points Many more focus points 135 vs 25
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Autofocus Faster video autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Shoot videos without worrying about focus
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Startup delay Much less startup delay 1300 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when turning on
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 97 ms vs 235 ms
Help
 2.4x less delay when taking photos
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/16000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 4x faster max shutter speed
Nikon 1 V1 Learn more about
the Nikon V1

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 346 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5N has excellent image quality 1.6 f-stops higher ISO than the V1
Overall image quality Much better image quality 77.0 vs 54.0
Help
 More than 40% 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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 11 EV
Help
 1.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 21.3 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.3 more bits of color
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
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 around 60% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs 1" 13.2x8.8mm
Help
 More than 3x larger sensor
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 460 shots vs 350 shots
Help
 More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 113x76x43 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 8 lenses vs 4 lenses
Help
 2x more lenses available
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 1.7"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Lowest price Cheaper $598.00 vs $796.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $199 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Weight Slightly lighter 269 g vs 294 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon 1 V1 Nikon 1 V1
61 vs 100
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-5N.

advice

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2
votes
by ianstewartdxb this month
Nikon V1 vs Sony NEX-5N

I had an SLR many years ago and my first DSLR was a compact SONY DSC-H9 i bought 5 years ago, bu...

7 people recommend the Sony NEX-5N:

"Definitely NEX 5N. If money is not a constraint then U may go for NEX 7. 18-200 lenses are availab..."

"The choice is quite difficult. I went through the same dilemma. I ended up buying the Sony. The cr..."

" I own the Sony NEX-5 and it is great.I Am sure that the new one is even better!"
One person recommends the Nikon V1:

" While the sensor size and noise performance of NEX 5n is a plus, the lack of lenses is an issue ..."
0
votes
by gaylemalcolm 2 days ago
Nikon V1 vs Sony NEX-5N

i'm a medium ability user. my daughter is 3. as a family we travel out of the country a lot. i l...
0
votes
by JulieAnne-YipCheeFong last month
Nikon V1 vs Panasonic TZ30

Amateur photographer. I like fast shutter speed, a good zoom, at least x 12 True colour I...
0
votes
by Con-Graves 4 days ago
Canon 600D vs Sony NEX-5N

intermediate user who is interested in photography, landscapes, travel and developing creative s...
0
votes
by Momneedshelp last month
Nikon V1 vs Olympus E-M5

Hello, I appreciate any help in deciding on a camera system. I'm a novice, but will take some cl...

One person recommends the Olympus E-M5:

" The Nikon 1 V1is very, VERY over-priced for what you get. You can set the E-M5 up to focus-&-fi..."

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
V1:921k dots
NEX-5N:920k dots
Movie format Full HD (1080p) video Help
V1:1080p @ 30fps
NEX-5N:1080p @ 60fps
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Longest exposure Short max exposure time Help
30 seconds
Lens availability Few lenses available Help
V1:4 lenses
NEX-5N:8 lenses
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Compare the NEX-7 vs the 1 V1
Compare the NEX-7 vs the NEX-5N
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Battery life Has a significantly shorter battery life
Compare the 1 J1 vs the 1 V1
Compare the 1 J1 vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the 1 V1
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX-5N
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Startup delay Has much less startup delay
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the 1 V1
Compare the D5100 vs the NEX-5N
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Compare the NEX C3 vs the 1 V1
Compare the NEX C3 vs the NEX-5N
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$739 - $964 with 14-42mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the 1 V1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the NEX-5N
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the 1 V1
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the NEX-5N

Nikon 1 V1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much slower
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the 1 V1

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the NEX-5N

appearance

Nikon 1 V1 Sony NEX-5N
Nikon 1 V1 Sony NEX-5N
Nikon 1 V1 Sony NEX-5N

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