Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Sony NEX-5N vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20

Sony Alpha NEX-5

54

"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

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
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
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20

41

Reasons to buy the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
Usually standard

differences

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

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
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
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
Around 13x larger sensor
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
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
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 1.8 fps
Help
Around 4x faster continuous shooting
Size Slightly smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 107x69x47 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 1.9"
Help
Around 20% thinner
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5

Advantages of the Sony DSC-H20

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
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
Weight Slightly lighter 250 g vs 287 g
Help
More than 10% lighter
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 Learn more about
the Sony DSC-H20
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
54 vs 41
Explain scores
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-5. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a mirrorless interchangeable-lens with a travel zoom.

advice

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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...

2
votes
by Alex-Jenkins last month
Sony DSC-HX9v vs Sony NEX-5

I'm a beginner who's been using an old Nikon D70 for last 7 years - in auto mode only. I want s...

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...

1
votes
by Phil-Hand last month
Nikon D5100 vs Sony NEX-5

I am a bit confused. Not hard for an amateur in such a complicated field. I see that the Nikon D51...

One person recommends the Nikon D5100:

"Hi Phil, these are both great cameras. I'd recommend the Nikon D5100 because there are so many mor..."

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds

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

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
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Dynamic range Has significantly narrower dynamic range

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

Supports 24p Supports 24p
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay More startup delay
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
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
Weight Heavier
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Size Slightly larger
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$689 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS20

Super zoom

$299 - $335

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Zoom Much more zoom
Size Much larger
Thickness Much thicker
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Travel zoom

$319

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Macro focus Worse macro capability
Fastest shutter speed Slower max shutter speed
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H10

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H10

Travel zoom

Movie format Lower resolution movies
True resolution Lower true resolution
Fujifilm FinePix HS25 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS25 EXR

Super zoom

$349 - $400

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Zoom Much more zoom
Size Much larger
Thickness Much thicker
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H90

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H90

Travel zoom

$248

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower
Fastest shutter speed Slower max shutter speed

appearance

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20

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