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Canon XC10 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
54
Imaging
44
Features
60
Overall
50
Canon XC10 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
69
Overall
61

Canon XC10 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Canon XC10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 160 - 20000
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-241mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 1040g - 125 x 102 x 122mm
  • Revealed April 2015
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Released October 2011
  • Previous Model is Sony NEX-5
  • New Model is Sony NEX-5R
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Canon XC10 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Canon XC10 versus Sony NEX-5N, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Canon and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the XC10 (12MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the XC10 (1") and NEX-5N (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The XC10 was launched 3 years after the NEX-5N which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Canon XC10 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the XC10 scores versus the NEX-5N when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon XC10 over the Sony NEX-5N

 XC10 NEX-5N 
ReleasedApril 2015October 2011Newer by 43 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Canon XC10

 NEX-5N XC10 
Display resolution920k1kSharper display (+919k dot)

Common features in the Canon XC10 and Sony NEX-5N

 XC10 NEX-5N 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Canon XC10 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and size. The Canon XC10 features external dimensions of 125mm x 102mm x 122mm (4.9" x 4.0" x 4.8") and a weight of 1040 grams (2.29 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Canon XC10 versus Sony NEX-5N in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the XC10 against the NEX-5N.

Canon XC10 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the XC10 and NEX-5N is 54 and 89 respectively.

Canon XC10 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Canon XC10 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reading a spec sheet. The image here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the XC10 and NEX-5N.

Clearly, each of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The XC10 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony NEX-5N will offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more recent XC10 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon XC10 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Canon XC10 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Canon XC10 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon XC10 Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography factors
50
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (1")
includes face detect focus
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have RAW files
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon XC10 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Street photography camera
56
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
has focus via touch
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than others (1,040 grams)
80
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
features touch to focus
good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon XC10 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography features
47
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
includes tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.8 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
58
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great battery pack (460 shots)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon XC10 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Travel photography camera
43
has focus via touch
really wide (24mm)
more heavy than others (1,040g)
low MP (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
great battery pack (460 per charge)
features touch to focus
MP count good (16MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon XC10
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5N
50
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have RAW files
71
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (460 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon XC10 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging highlights
28
really wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has microphone port
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
more heavy than others (1,040 grams)
33
touchscreen enabled
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have external mic jack
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Canon XC10 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon XC10 and Sony NEX-5N
 Canon XC10Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model Canon XC10 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Category Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2015-04-08 2011-10-03
Body design Large Sensor Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC DV5 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 12.8 x 9.6mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 122.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 20000 25600
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 24-241mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.6 -
Macro focus range 8cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 2.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.8 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p, 24p) 1280 x 720 (120p, 100p) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format XF-AVC, H.264 AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 1040 gr (2.29 lb) 269 gr (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 102 x 122mm (4.9" x 4.0" x 4.8") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 77
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1079
Other
Battery life - 460 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E6N NPFW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage CFast, SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $1,599 $550