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

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

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
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
Olympus PEN E-PL1

44
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
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
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
Lowest price Cheaper $259.99 vs $569.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $309 cheaper (2.2x less)
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
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
Startup delay Much less startup delay 1000 ms vs 2200 ms
Help
 2.2x less delay when turning on
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
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 69.0 vs 54.0
Help
 Around 30% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 2.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 441 ms vs 820 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when taking photos
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 21.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.7 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
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
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
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 1.7"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Weight Lighter 287 g vs 334 g
Help
 More than 10% 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-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
44 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-PL1:$259.99
NEX-5:$569.00
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
PEN E-PL1:820 ms
NEX-5:441 ms
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
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
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
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$689 with 18-55mm lens
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Thickness Is thinner
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Startup delay Has much more startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3100 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Image stabilization Has better image stabilization
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Startup delay Much less startup delay
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-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
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 Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$589 - $600 with 14-42mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$184 body only

$375 with 17mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-PL1

Sony Alpha NEX-5 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 Lower noise at high ISO
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Startup delay Much more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the NEX C3 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.