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

83
"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
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
69.0
Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Color depth
 Great color depth
22.2 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Olympus PEN E-PL1

48
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
Interchangeable lenses
 Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting

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
Lens availability Significantly 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
Lowest price Cheaper $279.90 vs $569.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $289 cheaper (2x less)
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
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
Low light performance Significantly 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
Startup delay Much less startup delay 1000 ms vs 2200 ms
Help
 2.2x less delay when turning on
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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high 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
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 Significantly 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
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
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 115x72x42 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
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
48 vs 83
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-5.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

OlympusPEN E-PL1
 Olympus PEN E-PL1 vs Sony Alpha NEX-5
SonyAlpha NEX-5
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
11
6
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
3
8
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
11
5
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
4
8
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
3
11
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
7
5
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
7
6
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

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

$599 - $600 body only

$698 - $699 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
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the NEX-5N vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$499 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the NEX C3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the NEX C3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$479 - $548 with 16mm lens
Storage slots Has more storage slots
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
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$597 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
True resolution Takes significantly 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
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$329 - $379 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
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 D3100 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$449 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

$449 - $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

$699 - $700 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

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Lowest price Much more expensive
Weight Heavier
Compare the NEX-7 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

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these cameras here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

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.