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
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

61

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
3D
Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Size
Really small
Mid size 116x68x39 mm
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GX1

Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 1400 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
Around 30% less delay when turning on
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
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GX1

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 77.0 vs 55.0
Help
40% better image quality
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 703 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 20.8 bits
Help
Distinguishes 2.8 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 10.6 EV
Help
2.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
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
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 460 shots vs 310 shots
Help
Around 50% more shots per battery charge
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
More than 60% larger sensor
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 4.2 fps
Help
Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 116x68x39 mm
Help
Around 20% smaller
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 235 ms vs 259 ms
Help
Around 10% less delay when taking photos
Weight Lighter 269 g vs 318 g
Help
Around 20% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $598.00 vs $642.80
Help
The best price we've seen is $45 cheaper (around 10% less)
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.5" vs 1.5"
Help
Almost the same
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
61 vs 100
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-5N.

advice

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1
votes
by Magdalene-Linda last month
Panasonic DMC-GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N

I am taking photos of bags in a light tent with two 5500k lights at the side. I need the photos ...

One person recommends the Sony NEX-5N:

" The Sony has a much larger image sensor, which will give you better quality images. If your lig..."

1
votes
by Matthew-Kim last month
Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-5

I am a beginner but woudl like to take quality pictures of my kids.

One person recommends the Sony NEX-5N:

"Hi Matthew, I think both of these cameras would be awesome. The Sony NEX cameras are really small ..."

0
votes
by Mark-Ballard last week
Panasonic DMC-GX1 vs Sony NEX-5

Hey everyone. I'm a pretty unexperienced amateur that currently uses a Samsung NX10 normally wit...

0
votes
by 11111111111111111 last month
Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-5

Hello, I need some advice. I am deciding between the two cameras. The frst one is Sony NEX 5...

0
votes
by Nan-Milburn last month
Canon SD750 vs Panasonic DMC-GX1

I have used the Canon SD750 digital camera for several years but I don't get very good photos. Cou...

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Touch screen Have touch screens Help
Less buttons
HDR Both have in-camera, most cameras like these don't Help
Combines multiple exposures
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 60fps
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Light sensitivity Very good maximum light sensitivity Help
DMC-GX1:12,800 ISO
NEX-5N:25,600 ISO
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared 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
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Has significantly less startup delay
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
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
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$797 - $947 with 10-30mm lens

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

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

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$755 - $964 body only

$803 with 14-42mm lens

Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Battery life Longer battery life
True resolution Lower true resolution
External flash No external flash support

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Startup delay Much less startup delay
Size Slightly smaller
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Supports 24p No 24p support

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Sony NEX-5N
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Sony NEX-5N
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Sony NEX-5N

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