Sony Alpha
NEX-5
 vs
Sony Cyber-shot
DSC-HX1

Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Sony NEX-5N vs Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

62

Reasons to buy the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Digital
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
Usually standard
Sony Alpha NEX-5

54
Runner-up

Sony Alpha NEX-5
"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

Size
 Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
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

differences

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 Around 4x higher resolution screen
Size Significantly smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 115x83x92 mm
Help
 3.5x smaller
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 Much higher true resolution 14 MP vs 8.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 70% more detail in your photos
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 1440 x 1080 @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video
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
Thickness Much thinner 1.5" vs 3.6"
Help
 2.4x thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 287 g vs 544 g
Help
 Around 50% lighter
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5

Advantages of the Sony DSC-HX1
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 7 fps
Help
 More than 40% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 230 ms vs 441 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when taking photos
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $355.00 vs $569.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $214 cheaper (around 40% less)
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Learn more about
the Sony DSC-HX1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
54 vs 62
Explain scores
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1. 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 super zoom.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

SonyAlpha NEX-5
 Sony Alpha NEX-5 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX1
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
2
2
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
1
2
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
3
0
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
1
2
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
2
1
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
3
0
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
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
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha NEX-5
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$389 - $500
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Super zoom

$428
Zoom Has much more zoom
GPS Has a built-in GPS
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX100v vs the Alpha NEX-5
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX100v vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$460 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Travel zoom

$289 - $328
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
GPS Has a built-in GPS
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Macro focus Slightly worse macro focusing
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the Alpha NEX-5
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$599 - $600 body only

$698 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
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 Lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower
Compare the NEX C3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Lowest price Significantly more expensive
Weight Heavier
Compare the NEX-7 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
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
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 much faster
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P100

Nikon Coolpix P100

Super zoom
Zoom More zoom
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Size Slightly larger
Compare the Coolpix P100 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420
Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the PowerShot SX30 IS vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$339 - $350
Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$227 - $230
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Wide angle Better wide angle
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the Coolpix L120 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS20

Super zoom

$310 - $475
Zoom Significantly more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Size Significantly larger
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Compare the FinePix HS20 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

appearance

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

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 0 comments