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Olympus E-5 vs Sony NEX-5R

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

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

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • 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
  • Announced February 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-3
Sony NEX-5R
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5N
  • New Model is Sony NEX-5T
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony NEX-5R Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-5 versus Sony NEX-5R, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and NEX-5R (16MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5R (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-5 was introduced 19 months earlier than the NEX-5R which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-5 grades vs the NEX-5R with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

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

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

 NEX-5R E-5 
RevealedAugust 2012February 2011Fresher by 19 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

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

 E-5 NEX-5R 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Screen resolution920k920kExact same screen resolution

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

In case you're intending to carry your camera, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-5 features exterior measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5R has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-5 versus Sony NEX-5R in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using during that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the E-5 and the NEX-5R.

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

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

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

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

Typically, it's tough to see the contrast in sensor sizing only by looking through technical specs. The photograph here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-5 and NEX-5R.

As you have seen, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-5 with its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony NEX-5R will provide you with greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older E-5 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-5R Portrait photography features
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5R as a Street photography camera
71
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
80
screen tilts
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
includes focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography advice
Sony NEX-5R Sports photography advice
59
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
has phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (5.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
68
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
has phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-5R Travel photography info
56
weather proofing
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
missing Time Lapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
73
includes focus via touch
MP count good (16MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-5R Landscape photography info
65
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
2 card slots
low MP (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
75
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5R as a Vlogging camera
64
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
has mic support
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
31
touch screen
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
missing microphone port
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-5 vs Sony NEX-5R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Sony NEX-5R
 Olympus E-5Sony Alpha NEX-5R
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5R
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-02-03 2012-08-29
Body design 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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 99
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 45 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 800 gr (1.76 lbs) 276 gr (0.61 lbs)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 78
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 13.1
DXO Low light score 519 910
Other
Battery life 870 shots 330 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-5 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 2 Single
Pricing at launch $1,700 $750