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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M5 II
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
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5R
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus E-M5 and Sony NEX-5N, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is very comparable but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5N (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 was announced 7 months later than the NEX-5N so they are both of a similar age. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-M5 scores against the NEX-5N in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony NEX-5N

 E-M5 NEX-5N 
RevealedApril 2012October 2011Fresher by 7 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Olympus E-M5

 NEX-5N E-M5 
Display resolution920k610kCrisper display (+310k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony NEX-5N

 E-M5 NEX-5N 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 comes with outside dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5N has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 and Sony NEX-5N in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M5 vs the NEX-5N.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and NEX-5N is 81 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizing just by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and NEX-5N.

Clearly, both the cameras have got the exact same megapixel count but different sensor sizing. The E-M5 contains the smaller sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field more difficult. The younger E-M5 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
73
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Street photography factors
82
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes focus by touch
weather proof
very good high ISO (25,600)
80
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
provides focus via touch
good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Sports photography camera
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
lack of phase detect autofocus
58
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery (460 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography highlights
66
weather proof
includes focus by touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly screen
70
great battery (460 shots)
provides focus via touch
good resolution (16MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5N
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
does not have Time Lapse recording
71
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
great battery (460 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging highlights
34
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have mic port
33
touchscreen capability
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony NEX-5N
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-04-30 2011-10-03
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 610 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 gr (0.94 lbs) 269 gr (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 71 77
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 12.7
DXO Low light score 826 1079
Other
Battery life 360 images 460 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $799 $550