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

76

Runner-up

Sony NEX C3

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX C3

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
1,083 ISO
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

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
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 235 ms vs 430 ms
Help
Around 50% less delay when taking photos
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 5.5 fps
Help
More than 80% faster continuous shooting
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N

Advantages of the Sony C3

Startup delay Much less startup delay 1200 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
Around 40% less delay when turning on
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
Weight Lighter 225 g vs 269 g
Help
Around 20% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $548.00 vs $598.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $50 cheaper (around 10% 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 76
Explain scores
Sony NEX C3 Sony NEX C3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-5N.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the NEX-5N or the C3,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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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 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 jynielsen 6 days ago
Canon T3i vs Sony NEX-5N

We need a camera for product photos (to be used in marketing materials, such as trade show banne...

0
votes
by Jaimenez last month
Canon T3i vs Sony NEX-5N

I really want the ability to control exposure/aperture on the fly

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively 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 Good dynamic range Help
NEX-5N:12.7 EV
C3:12.2 EV
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Color depth Good color depth Help
NEX-5N:23.6 bits
C3:22.7 bits
HDR Both have in-camera, most cameras like these don't Help
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama In-camera panoramas Help
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
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
Battery life Great battery life Help
NEX-5N:460 shots
C3:400 shots
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
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
Thickness Is thicker
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
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 Has a built-in flash
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
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 significantly 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

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

$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
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 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 Significantly worse image quality

appearance

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

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