Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Nikon D7000 vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

67

Winner

Sony NEX-5N

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Size
Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Light sensitivity
High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
10 fps
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Nikon D90

62

Runner-up

Nikon D90

"Fast Autofocus with useful control options"
dpreview.com | talking about the D90's auto-focus
"The D90 feels very comfortable and natural, with a good grip and logical, ergonomic, button placement."
dpreview.com | talking about the D90's feel

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.63x
Lens availability
Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Battery life
Great battery life
850 shots
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Pentaprism

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D90

Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
More than 21x more lenses available
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 850 shots vs 460 shots
Help
More than 80% more shots per battery charge
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
6.3x less delay when turning on
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 Pentaprism vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N

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
Size Much smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 132x103x77 mm
Help
4.2x smaller
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 60fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
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
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
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
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Weight Much lighter 269 g vs 703 g
Help
2.6x lighter
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 4.5 fps
Help
More than 2x faster continuous shooting
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 77.0 vs 73.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 3"
Help
2x thinner
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 22.7 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.9 more bits of color
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 977 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $598.00 vs $896.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $299 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D90 Nikon D90
62 vs 67
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-5N. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Nikon D90 or the Sony NEX-5N,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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0
votes
by Ehsan-Sharif1 last month
Sony NEX-5N vs Nikon D90

I feel like d90 is a little old to use for the next 2-3 years.

0
votes
by Deanna-Strieb last week
Canon T3i vs Nikon D90

I'm mainly taking pictures of my children but am super picky!  I don't want to do manual setting...

0
votes
by jynielsen 5 days ago
Canon T3i vs Sony NEX-5N

We need a camera for product photos (to be used in marketing materials, such as trade show banne...

0
votes
by Lisa-Bunn last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D90

been stealing my dad's d-slr for quite some time for mini photo shoots with my dogs and friends ...

0
votes
by Jaimenez last month
Canon T3i vs Sony NEX-5N

I really want the ability to control exposure/aperture on the fly

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution Very high resolution screens Help
D90:930k dots
NEX-5N:920k dots
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D90:73.0
NEX-5N:77.0
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D90:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
NEX-5N:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D90:12.5 EV
NEX-5N:12.7 EV
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Color depth Good color depth Help
D90:22.7 bits
NEX-5N:23.6 bits
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
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

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly higher boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D90.

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Less startup delay
Supports 24p No 24p support
Touch screen No touch screen
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
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
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Startup delay Less startup delay
Weight Slightly lighter
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Supports 24p No 24p support

appearance

Nikon D90 Sony NEX-5N
Nikon D90 Sony NEX-5N
Nikon D90 Sony NEX-5N

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Avatar for vindiddy vindiddy (2:22 AM, November 13, 2011)
Im looking at upgrading from my sony cybershot w35, and am looking which would be better between these two. Part of me wants the familiarity and portability of the Nex, while the other part says to go for the power of the D90.. I can get a lens+body combo for about the same price for either. Which would you recommend??