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Olympus E-510 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Olympus E-510 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 490g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Revealed November 2007
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-510
  • Older Model is Olympus E-500
  • Successor is Olympus E-520
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Released October 2011
  • Previous Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5R
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Olympus E-510 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

The following is a extensive comparison of the Olympus E-510 and Sony NEX-5N, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap between the resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5N (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

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The E-510 was introduced 4 years earlier than the NEX-5N which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-510 grades versus the NEX-5N in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Sony NEX-5N

 E-510 NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Olympus E-510

 NEX-5N E-510 
ReleasedOctober 2011November 2007Newer by 47 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Sony NEX-5N

 E-510 NEX-5N 
Manually focus More precise focus
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-510 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-510 comes with outer dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5N has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-510 and Sony NEX-5N in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-510 and the NEX-5N.

Olympus E-510 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-510 and NEX-5N is 69 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions only by looking at technical specs. The picture here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-510 and NEX-5N.

As you have seen, both of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-510 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony NEX-5N will resolve extra detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-510 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-510 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Portrait photography camera
56
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low MP (10 megapixels)
73
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 Street photography details
Sony NEX-5N Street photography details
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition (490 grams)
screen does not articulate
80
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
has focus via touch
good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-510 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography info
52
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (10 megapixels)
58
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
better than average battery power (460 per charge)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-510
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5N
52
lighter than competition (490g)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
70
better than average battery power (460 per charge)
has focus via touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-510 Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography features
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.5")
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
71
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3")
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (460 CIPA)
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 Vlogging info
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging info
9
can't shoot video
33
built-in touchscreen
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have microphone jack
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Olympus E-510 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Sony NEX-5N
 Olympus E-510Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-510 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Also Known as EVOLT E-510 -
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2007-11-23 2011-10-03
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - 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 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 1600 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 3 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 45 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 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)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 490 grams (1.08 pounds) 269 grams (0.59 pounds)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 77
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.0 12.7
DXO Low light rating 442 1079
Other
Battery life - 460 photos
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 recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $550 $550