Sony
NEX-5N
 vs
Sony NEX
C3

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
Sony NEX C3

78
Runner-up

Sony NEX C3

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX C3

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,083 ISO
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama

differences

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 60fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
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
Overall image quality Better image quality 77.0 vs 73.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Battery life Longer battery life 460 shots vs 400 shots
Help
 Around 20% more shots per battery charge
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 22.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.9 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
 0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 5.5 fps
Help
 More than 80% faster continuous shooting
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N

Advantages of the Sony C3
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus Yes vs No
Help
 Record movies without worrying about focus
Weight Lighter 225 g vs 269 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Size Slightly smaller 110x60x33 mm vs 111x59x38 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.5"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $499.00 vs $599.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $100 cheaper (around 20% less)
Sony NEX C3 Learn more about
the Sony C3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
100 vs 78
Explain scores
Sony NEX C3 Sony NEX C3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-5N.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

SonyNEX-5N
 Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX C3
SonyNEX C3
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
31
21
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
39
9
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
34
12
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
34
12
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
32
11
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
30
15
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
34
14
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Very low noise at high ISO Help
NEX-5N:1,079 ISO
C3:1,083 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
NEX-5N:77.0
C3:73.0
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
NEX-5N:920k dots
C3:921k dots
Dynamic range Excellent dynamic range Help
NEX-5N:12.7 EV
C3:12.2 EV
Color depth Good color depth Help
NEX-5N:23.6 bits
C3:22.7 bits
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Panorama In-camera panoramas Help
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Sensor size Large sensors Help
APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
Battery life Great battery life Help
NEX-5N:460 shots
C3:400 shots
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
16 MP
Light sensitivity Very good maximum light sensitivity Help
NEX-5N:25,600 ISO
C3:12,800 ISO
Size Fairly small Help
NEX-5N:111x59x38 mm
C3:110x60x33 mm
Weight Light weight Help
NEX-5N:269 g
C3:225 g
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Longest exposure Short max exposure time Help
30 seconds
Lens availability Few lenses available Help
8 lenses
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has much less startup delay
Weight Is slightly heavier
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX-5N
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX C3
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the NEX-7 vs the NEX-5N
Compare the NEX-7 vs the NEX C3
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
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the 1 J1 vs the NEX-5N
Compare the 1 J1 vs the NEX C3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$675 body only

$900 - $964 with 14-42mm lens
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures
Weight Is slightly heavier
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the NEX-5N
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the NEX C3
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
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the NEX-5N
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the NEX C3
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$749 body only

$600 - $747 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Startup delay Has much less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the NEX-5N
Compare the D5100 vs the NEX C3
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$847 with 10-30mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the 1 V1 vs the NEX-5N
Compare the 1 V1 vs the NEX C3

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Sony NEX-5N.

Sony NEX C3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$450 - $689 with 18-55mm lens
Storage slots Has more storage slots
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the NEX C3
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$425 - $449 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Low light performance Much more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Much worse image quality
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the NEX C3

appearance

Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX C3
Sony NEX C3
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX C3

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?

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