Olympus
PEN E-P2
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Olympus PEN E-P3 vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-5

74

  
Olympus PEN E-P2

42

  

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Size
 Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
 
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
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 Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $429.99 vs $656.43
Help
 The best price we've seen is $226 cheaper (more than 30% 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-5
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.4 EV
Help
 1.8 f-stops more dynamic range
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 796 ISO vs 505 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5 has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Better image quality 69.0 vs 56.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 1000 ms vs 2300 ms
Help
 2.3x less delay when turning on
Color depth Better color depth 22.2 bits vs 21.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.7 more bits of color
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
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
Battery life Longer battery life 330 shots vs 300 shots
Help
 10% more shots per battery charge
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-P2 Olympus PEN E-P2
42 vs 74
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-5.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D3100 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$497 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
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Samsung NX300

Samsung NX300

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$748 - $749 with 20-50mm lens
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Compare the NX300 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the NX300 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,565
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$239 - $249 body only

$399 - $419 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$339 - $514 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Built-in flash Has a built-in flash
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$854 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Olympus PEN E-P2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$369 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the PEN E-P2
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Startup delay Less startup delay
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Battery life Slightly shorter battery life
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-P2
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 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
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-P2
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$285 body only

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Lowest price Slightly cheaper
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-P2
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$270 with 14-42mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the PEN E-P2

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
Weight Heavier
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Startup delay More startup delay
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Size Much larger
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha NEX-5

appearance

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

discussion

Showing 6 comments

Nick Mazur (3:12 PM, August 04, 2011)
Lower noise at high iso means exactly that. Higher maximum iso means exactly what it says too. However, just because a camera has higher maximum iso doesn't mean that it's usable. Lower noise at high iso and higher maximum iso do not mean the same thing.
A larger sensor also gives the benefit of shorter depth of field, so if you were looking to do portraiture with either camera the nex-5 would give a more out if focused background easier (though a faster lens with a long focal length would be needed. The 16mm lens won't give you much bokeh).
 
Trixuo (5:44 AM, July 02, 2011)
Many reviews say that the user interface for the NEX-5 is really annoying. Is it really annoying? I would like to upgrade from my point-and-shoot camera to the NEX-5. How is the user interface of NEX-5 compared with the regular point-and-shoot camera? 

P.S: I never use any DSLR camera.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:07 AM, May 26, 2011)
Hi Der Auerhahn, yes, a few of the differences shown are a bit redundant, however, we don't use the redundant differences in our scoring, so they are there to help people understand the differences between the cameras.

Thanks for pointing out those aspects of the PEN that we missed!
 
Der Auerhahn (2:12 PM, May 23, 2011)
This "test" is pretty stupid as several aspects are accounted for several times:
- Lower noise at high ISO + Higher maximum ISO
- Larger sensor, which is actually no advantage in itself, but simply enables higher ISO (already accounted for twice) and higher dynamic range (accounted for separately) again.

Several important aspects in favour of PEN are also missing:
1. Lenses and body are reasonably balanced, whereas NEX uses a tiny body with huge lenses.
2. NEX misses controlls and can only be used via menu. 
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:35 PM, March 13, 2011)
The NEX doesn't have built in image stabilization (as far as I'm aware). Some of the lenses available for the Sony do have image stabilization, but many do not. The advantage of the Olympus is that you get image stabilization with every lens.
 
Nil (6:25 AM, March 13, 2011)
This is silly. Sony uses optical stabilisation. It is unfair to say NEX doesn't have any image stabilisation.