Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Olympus PEN E-P1 vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-5

80

"The system for manually positioning AF points is quick and easy to use."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's auto-focus
"High quality video mode"
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
1000 ms startup delay
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
Olympus PEN E-P1

47

Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-P1

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P1

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Size
Really small
Mid size 121x70x36 mm
Thickness
Thin
1.4"
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-P1

Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Lens availability More lenses available 26 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
Around 3.5x more lenses available
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
Lowest price Cheaper $184.49 vs $569.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $385 cheaper (3.1x less)
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.4" vs 1.5"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Olympus PEN E-P1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-P1

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

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
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 796 ISO vs 536 ISO
Help
The NEX-5 has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 69.0 vs 55.0
Help
Around 30% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.4 EV
Help
1.8 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Color depth Better color depth 22.2 bits vs 21.4 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
More than 50% larger sensor
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 121x70x36 mm
Help
Around 20% smaller
Weight Lighter 287 g vs 355 g
Help
Around 20% lighter
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus PEN E-P1
47 vs 80
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-5.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
PEN E-P1:$184.49
NEX-5:$569.00
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen

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

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Startup delay Has much 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 faster continuously
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
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
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Touch screen Has a touch screen
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Olympus PEN E-P2

Olympus PEN E-P2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$480 with 17mm lens

Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker

Olympus PEN E-P1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $900 with 17mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$589 - $600 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality

Sony Alpha NEX-5 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 Much higher true resolution
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Startup delay More startup delay
Lowest price Significantly more expensive
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Supports 24p
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Size Larger
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Better image quality
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Startup delay More startup delay
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Lens availability Much more lenses available
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR

appearance

Olympus PEN E-P1 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Olympus PEN E-P1 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Olympus PEN E-P1 Sony Alpha NEX-5

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