Olympus E-5 vs Sony NEX-5

Here is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-5 versus Sony NEX-5, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is very similar but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-5 was announced 9 months later than the NEX-5 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-5 grades against the NEX-5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-5 & Sony Alpha NEX-5. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-5 Gallery & Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-5 offers exterior dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-5 versus Sony NEX-5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-5 vs the NEX-5.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and NEX-5 is 58 and 89 respectively.

Quite often, it's tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reading a spec sheet. The photograph below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-5 and NEX-5.

As you can see, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-5 having a tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony NEX-5 will offer extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The more recent E-5 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.