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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Announced September 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL7
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL9
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
  • Introduced October 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-5
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-5R
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus E-PL8 versus Sony NEX-5N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5N (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL8 was announced 5 years later than the NEX-5N and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a short view of how the E-PL8 grades vs the NEX-5N when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Sony NEX-5N

 E-PL8 NEX-5N 
IntroducedSeptember 2016October 2011More recent by 61 months
Display resolution1037k920kCrisper display (+117k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Olympus E-PL8

 NEX-5N E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Sony NEX-5N

 E-PL8 NEX-5N 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL8 offers physical measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL8 versus Sony NEX-5N in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is the front view size comparison of the E-PL8 against the NEX-5N.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and NEX-5N is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to see the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading through specs. The visual below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and NEX-5N.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have got the exact same megapixel count but not the same sensor measurements. The E-PL8 has got the tinier sensor which should make obtaining bokeh more challenging. The more modern E-PL8 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL8
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5N
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW files
73
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Street photography factors
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
includes touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Sports photography camera
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
no phase detect auto focus
58
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great battery power (460 per charge)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL8
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5N
71
supports touch to focus
good megapixels (16MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
70
great battery power (460 per charge)
includes touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
71
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (460 CIPA)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL8
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5N
35
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
does not have external mic socket
33
touchscreen capability
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone socket
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Sony NEX-5N
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2016-09-19 2011-10-03
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
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 357 grams (0.79 pounds) 269 grams (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 77
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1079
Other
Battery life 350 shots 460 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $500 $550