Olympus
PEN E-PL1
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Olympus PEN E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-5

74

  
Olympus PEN E-PL1

41

  

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
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
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 
Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL1
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Lens availability More lenses available 26 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 Around 3.5x more lenses available
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
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Lowest price Cheaper $270.00 vs $656.43
Help
 The best price we've seen is $386 cheaper (2.4x less)
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 2.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 69.0 vs 54.0
Help
 Around 30% better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 796 ISO vs 487 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5 has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
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 2200 ms
Help
 2.2x 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 17.3x13.0mm
Help
 More than 60% 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 290 shots
Help
 More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 115x72x42 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 670 ms vs 820 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Weight Lighter 287 g vs 334 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 1.7"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
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-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
41 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
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
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
0
Focus points Few focus points Help
PEN E-PL1:11
NEX-5:25
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

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the PEN E-PL1
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
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 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-PL1
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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-PL1
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Startup delay Has significantly more startup delay
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$514 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Thickness Is thinner
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$782 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-PL1
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$285 body only

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-PL1

Sony Alpha NEX-5 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
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-PL1 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony Alpha NEX-5

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Guest (2:32 AM, August 23, 2011)
The E-PL1 has two forms of continuous focus in video mode, Continuous Focus and Continuous Focus with Tracking. This should be corrected in the specs. The option isn't available using the quick button, one has to use the dial to switch to video, then the autofocus features work.