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Olympus E-5 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Olympus E-5 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-3
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
  • Released October 2011
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-5R
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-5 versus Sony NEX-5N, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5N (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-5 was announced 8 months earlier than the NEX-5N and they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-5 matches up vs the NEX-5N in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

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

 E-5 NEX-5N 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

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

 NEX-5N E-5 
ReleasedOctober 2011February 2011Fresher by 8 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

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

 E-5 NEX-5N 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Screen resolution920k920kSame screen resolution

Olympus E-5 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-5 has exterior measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-5 versus Sony NEX-5N in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-5 compared to the NEX-5N.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-5 and NEX-5N is 58 and 89 respectively.

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

Olympus E-5 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing just by reviewing technical specs. The graphic underneath will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-5 and NEX-5N.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-5 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony NEX-5N will offer more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The older E-5 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

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

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

Olympus E-5 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
73
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Street photography camera
71
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
80
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
has focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-5
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5N
59
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
58
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good battery life (460 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Travel photography camera
56
environment proof
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
lack of Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
70
good battery life (460 per charge)
has focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography factors
65
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
has double storage slots
megapixel count low (12MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
71
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (460 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging features
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging features
64
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
includes mic port
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
33
touchscreen functionality
features face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of microphone socket
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Sony NEX-5N
 Olympus E-5Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-02-03 2011-10-03
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V+ Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
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 11 25
Cross type focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 45 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 920k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 gr (1.76 lb) 269 gr (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 77
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 12.7
DXO Low light rating 519 1079
Other
Battery life 870 photographs 460 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-5 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Two One
Launch pricing $1,700 $550