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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Renewed by Olympus E-P2
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Updated by Sony NEX-5N
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is relatively similar but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizing.

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The E-P1 was manufactured 10 months before the NEX-5 and they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-P1 grades against the NEX-5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Sony NEX-5

 E-P1 NEX-5 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Olympus E-P1

 NEX-5 E-P1 
LaunchedJune 2010July 2009More modern by 10 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Sony NEX-5

 E-P1 NEX-5 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P1 has exterior measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has sizing 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 E-P1 vs Sony NEX-5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that moment. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-P1 versus the NEX-5.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and NEX-5 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizes only by going over technical specs. The picture underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P1 and NEX-5.

As you have seen, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-P1 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Sony NEX-5 will offer you extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography highlights
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
72
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Street photography camera
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
76
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography highlights
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery life (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
52
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P1
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5
43
no Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (300 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
59
MP count good (14 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography factors
60
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (300 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
68
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P1
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
does not offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic socket
28
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have microphone support
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Sony NEX-5
 Olympus PEN E-P1Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-07-29 2010-06-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless 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 surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 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 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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 gr (0.78 lb) 287 gr (0.63 lb)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 69
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.2
DXO Low light rating 536 796
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 330 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $182 $599