Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony NEX-5

Here is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus FE-5020 and Sony NEX-5, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the FE-5020 (12MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is very close but the FE-5020 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The FE-5020 was launched 10 months prior to the NEX-5 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus FE-5020 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the FE-5020 grades against the NEX-5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus FE-5020 and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus FE-5020 Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

When you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus FE-5020 provides outer measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 137 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

See the Olympus FE-5020 and Sony NEX-5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the FE-5020 versus the NEX-5.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FE-5020 and NEX-5 is 95 and 89 respectively.

Normally, it is hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizing purely by viewing a spec sheet. The visual below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the FE-5020 and NEX-5.

As you can see, each of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FE-5020 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Sony NEX-5 will render more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older FE-5020 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.