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Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
92
Imaging
41
Features
56
Overall
47
Nikon 1 S1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
69
Overall
61

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Nikon 1 S1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 197g - 102 x 61 x 30mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Refreshed by Nikon 1 S2
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-5
  • New Model is Sony NEX-5R
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Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Here is a extended assessment of the Nikon 1 S1 versus Sony NEX-5N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Nikon and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the 1 S1 (10MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the 1 S1 (1") and NEX-5N (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The 1 S1 was brought out 21 months later than the NEX-5N which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick summation of how the 1 S1 grades vs the NEX-5N when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 S1 over the Sony NEX-5N

 1 S1 NEX-5N 
RevealedJune 2013October 2011Fresher by 21 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Nikon 1 S1

 NEX-5N 1 S1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon 1 S1 and Sony NEX-5N

 1 S1 NEX-5N 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon 1 S1 has outside dimensions of 102mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon 1 S1 versus Sony NEX-5N in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the 1 S1 vs the NEX-5N.

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 1 S1 and NEX-5N is 92 and 89 respectively.

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to see the contrast between sensor sizing only by checking technical specs. The photograph underneath may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 S1 and NEX-5N.

As you can tell, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The 1 S1 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh trickier and the Sony NEX-5N will resolve more detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more recent 1 S1 will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 S1 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography features
48
manual focus
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
low resolution (10 megapixels)
74
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 S1 Street photography features
Sony NEX-5N Street photography features
69
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (197 grams)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
boasts touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 S1 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography features
49
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
decent sensor size (1")
has tracking focus
comes with phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
58
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery pack (460 shots)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 S1 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography advice
61
lighter than competition in class (197g)
built-in flash
bad battery power (220 shots)
low resolution (10MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
71
good battery pack (460 CIPA)
boasts touch focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon 1 S1
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5N
56
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (220 shots)
71
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (460 per charge)
no image stabilization
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 S1 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging highlights
30
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (197g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have microphone support
33
touchscreen functionality
includes face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
lack of microphone port
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Nikon 1 S1 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 S1 and Sony NEX-5N
 Nikon 1 S1Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model Nikon 1 S1 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2013-06-21 2011-10-03
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3872 x 2592 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 135 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon 1 Sony E
Available lenses 13 121
Crop factor 2.7 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT LCD Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 15.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/60 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 1072 x 720 (60 fps) 640 x 240 (400), 320 x 120 (1200) 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
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 197 gr (0.43 lbs) 269 gr (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 61 x 30mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.2") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 77
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 11.1 12.7
DXO Low light score 397 1079
Other
Battery life 220 shots 460 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL20 NPFW50
Self timer Yes 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
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $231 $550