Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Olympus PEN E-P3 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
Olympus PEN E-P2

47

Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-P2

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P2

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

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-P2

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 $479.95 vs $598.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $118 cheaper (around 20% less)
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.4" vs 1.5"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Olympus PEN E-P2 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-P2

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 505 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N has excellent image quality 1.1 f-stops higher ISO than the PEN E-P2
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 60fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 77.0 vs 56.0
Help
Around 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 10.4 EV
Help
2.3 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 21.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 2.1 more bits of color
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 Higher true resolution 16 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
More than 50% larger sensor
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 3 fps
Help
Around 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 121x70x36 mm
Help
Around 20% smaller
Weight Lighter 269 g vs 355 g
Help
More than 20% lighter
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-P2 Olympus PEN E-P2
47 vs 100
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-5N.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Has much less startup delay
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Battery life Has a significantly shorter battery life
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
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Startup delay Has much less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Startup delay Has much less startup delay
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$731 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

Startup delay Has significantly less startup delay
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Battery life Has a significantly shorter battery life
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $900 with 17mm lens

Screen type Has an OLED screen
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier

Olympus PEN E-P2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens

Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Color depth Worse color depth
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$184 body only

$375 with 17mm lens

Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Lowest price Cheaper
Color depth Worse color depth
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 Built-in flash
Screen size Much smaller screen
Overall image quality Slightly 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 Worse image quality

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

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Startup delay Much less startup delay
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
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
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

Lens availability Much more lenses available
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity

appearance

Olympus PEN E-P2 Sony NEX-5N
Olympus PEN E-P2 Sony NEX-5N
Olympus PEN E-P2 Sony NEX-5N

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