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Olympus E-1 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Olympus E-1 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Olympus E-1
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
  • Released November 2003
  • Successor is Olympus E-3
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5N
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Olympus E-1 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-1 and Sony NEX-5, one being a Pro DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

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The E-1 was revealed 7 years before the NEX-5 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-1 matches up vs the NEX-5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Sony NEX-5

 E-1 NEX-5 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Olympus E-1

 NEX-5 E-1 
ReleasedJune 2010November 2003Fresher by 79 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution920k134kClearer screen (+786k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Sony NEX-5

 E-1 NEX-5 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-1 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-1 features physical dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") along with a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-1 and Sony NEX-5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at that moment. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-1 against the NEX-5.

Olympus E-1 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-1 and NEX-5 is 59 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to picture the difference in sensor sizing merely by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-1 and NEX-5.

As you can see, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-1 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh tougher and the Sony NEX-5 will result in greater detail because of its extra 9 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The older E-1 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-1 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Portrait photography camera
46
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low resolution (5MP)
72
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 Street photography info
Sony NEX-5 Street photography info
57
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
lighter than others (735g)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-1 Sports photography information
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography information
40
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
max fps low (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (5MP)
52
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-1 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography advice
47
lighter than others (735 grams)
environment proofing
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low resolution (5 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
59
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography factors
46
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
small screen (1.8")
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (5 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
68
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-1
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5
9
no video
28
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
no mic socket
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Olympus E-1 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Sony NEX-5
 Olympus E-1Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-1 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Category Pro DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2003-11-29 2010-06-07
Physical type Large SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 5 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 2560 x 1920 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 3 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 45 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 1.8 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 134k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 735g (1.62 lbs) 287g (0.63 lbs)
Physical dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 69
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 796
Other
Battery life - 330 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at release $1,700 $599