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Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
86
Imaging
45
Features
62
Overall
51
Nikon 1 AW1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Nikon 1 AW1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 356g - 114 x 72 x 37mm
  • Revealed September 2013
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-5N
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Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Nikon 1 AW1 versus Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Nikon and Sony. The resolution of the 1 AW1 (14MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is very well matched but the 1 AW1 (1") and NEX-5 (APS-C) have different sensor size.

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The 1 AW1 was revealed 3 years later than the NEX-5 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the 1 AW1 scores versus the NEX-5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 AW1 over the Sony NEX-5

 1 AW1 NEX-5 
LaunchedSeptember 2013June 2010Fresher by 40 months
Display resolution921k920kSharper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Nikon 1 AW1

 NEX-5 1 AW1 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Nikon 1 AW1 and Sony NEX-5

 1 AW1 NEX-5 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and size. The Nikon 1 AW1 offers exterior dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.5") along with a weight of 356 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5 has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Look at the Nikon 1 AW1 versus Sony NEX-5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the 1 AW1 against the NEX-5.

Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 1 AW1 and NEX-5 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizing only by reading through technical specs. The graphic here might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 AW1 and NEX-5.

As you have seen, both of the cameras feature the identical megapixel count but different sensor sizing. The 1 AW1 provides the tinier sensor which should make obtaining shallow DOF trickier. The fresher 1 AW1 should have an edge in sensor tech.

Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 AW1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (1")
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 AW1 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Street photography camera
68
sensor size is good (1")
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 AW1 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography highlights
60
max frames per second high (60.0 frames per second)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (1")
has tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery life (220 shots)
52
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 AW1 Travel photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography factors
63
environment sealing
good MP (14MP)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (220 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
59
good megapixels (14MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 AW1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Landscape photography camera
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery life (220 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
68
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 AW1 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging highlights
29
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of mic jack
28
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
does not have mic support
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Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 AW1 and Sony NEX-5
 Nikon 1 AW1Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon 1 AW1 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-09-19 2010-06-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor EXPEED 3A Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3072 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 160 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 135 25
Lens
Lens support Nikon 1 Sony E
Available lenses 13 121
Focal length multiplier 2.7 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 921k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 60.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes Fill flash, fill w/slow sync, rear curtain sync, rear w/slow sync, redeye reduction, redeye w/slow sync, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/60 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p), 640 x 240 (400 fps), 320 x 120 (1200 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 356g (0.78 pounds) 287g (0.63 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 37mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.5") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 51 69
DXO Color Depth rating 20.2 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.9 12.2
DXO Low light rating 428 796
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 330 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL20 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $0 $599