Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Olympus PEN E-PM2 vs Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5N
Winner
Sony NEX-5N

91

vs
Olympus PEN E-PM2

77

Olympus PEN E-PM2
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Light sensitivity
 High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
 

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PM2

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
700 ms startup delay
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PM2
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 700 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
 2.7x less delay when turning on
Lens availability More lenses available 26 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 Around 3.5x more lenses available
Focus points Slightly more focus points 35 vs 25
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.5"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Olympus PEN E-PM2 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PM2

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
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
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus Yes vs No
Help
 Record movies without worrying about focus
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 932 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5N has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 460 shots vs 360 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Better image quality 77.0 vs 72.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.3mm
Help
 Around 60% larger sensor
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 22.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.9 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
 0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 10 fps vs 8 fps
Help
 Around 30% faster continuous shooting
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-PM2 Olympus PEN E-PM2
77 vs 91
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-5N.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
PEN E-PM2:932 ISO
NEX-5N:1,079 ISO
Light sensitivity Very good maximum light sensitivity Help
25,600 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
PEN E-PM2:72.0
NEX-5N:77.0
Touch screen Have touch screens Help
Less buttons
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
PEN E-PM2:12.2 EV
NEX-5N:12.7 EV
Color depth Good color depth Help
PEN E-PM2:22.7 bits
NEX-5N:23.6 bits
Panorama In-camera panoramas Help
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Size Fairly small Help
PEN E-PM2:110x64x34 mm
NEX-5N:111x59x38 mm
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Weight Light weight Help
269 g
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5R

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$498 body only

$598 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Focuses automatically
Focus points Has significantly more focus points
Compare the NEX-5R vs the PEN E-PM2
Compare the NEX-5R vs the NEX-5N
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$768 with 14-42mm lens
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN E-PM2
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Light sensitivity Slightly lower maximum light sensitivity
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the PEN E-PM2
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the NEX-5N
Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Pro digicam

$648 - $760
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the PEN E-PM2
Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the NEX-5N
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$495 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the PEN E-PM2
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-6

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$648 body only

$798 with 16-50mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the PEN E-PM2
Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the NEX-5N
Canon EOS M

Canon EOS M

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$479 - $599 with 22mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Panorama Lacks a built in panoramas
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS M vs the PEN E-PM2
Compare the EOS M vs the NEX-5N

Olympus PEN E-PM2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$279 - $299 with 14-42mm lens
3D Takes 3D photos
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-PM2
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$329 with 14-42mm lens
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PM2

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the NEX-7 vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 - $743 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Less startup delay
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX-5N

appearance

Olympus PEN E-PM2 Sony NEX-5N
Olympus PEN E-PM2 Sony NEX-5N
Olympus PEN E-PM2 Sony NEX-5N

discussion

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