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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
69
Overall
61

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Revealed January 2016
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Released October 2011
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-5R
Photography Glossary

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus PEN-F versus Sony NEX-5N, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and NEX-5N (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The PEN-F was manufactured 4 years later than the NEX-5N and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the PEN-F scores versus the NEX-5N in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Sony NEX-5N

 PEN-F NEX-5N 
ReleasedJanuary 2016October 2011More recent by 53 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k920kClearer screen (+117k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Olympus PEN-F

 NEX-5N PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Sony NEX-5N

 PEN-F NEX-5N 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus PEN-F features outside measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") along with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Olympus PEN-F versus Sony NEX-5N in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the PEN-F against the NEX-5N.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the PEN-F and NEX-5N is 84 and 89 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to envision the difference between sensor measurements only by reviewing specifications. The graphic underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the PEN-F and NEX-5N.

Plainly, each of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The PEN-F featuring a tinier sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Olympus PEN-F will deliver more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The younger PEN-F is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus PEN-F
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5N
75
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
74
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography info
Sony NEX-5N Street photography info
84
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
provides focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
80
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
features focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography highlights
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
silent mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
low battery pack (330 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
58
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery (460 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography advice
75
provides focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
low battery pack (330 shots)
71
good battery (460 per charge)
features focus via touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
76
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
low battery pack (330 shots)
71
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
good battery (460 shots)
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging features
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging features
78
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lack of microphone jack
33
has touchscreen
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
missing external mic support
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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Sony NEX-5N
 Olympus PEN-FSony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN-F Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2016-01-27 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 dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Min boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 427 gr (0.94 lb) 269 gr (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 74 77
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 12.7
DXO Low light score 894 1079
Other
Battery life 330 photos 460 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) 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
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $1,000 $550