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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Announced February 2011
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
  • Previous Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-5R
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Olympus SZ-10 versus Sony NEX-5N, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-10 (14MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is pretty comparable but the SZ-10 (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-10 was launched 7 months prior to the NEX-5N so they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SZ-10 scores vs the NEX-5N in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Sony NEX-5N

 SZ-10 NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Olympus SZ-10

 NEX-5N SZ-10 
ReleasedOctober 2011February 2011Newer by 7 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony NEX-5N

 SZ-10 NEX-5N 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-10 has exterior dimensions of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5N has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-10 versus Sony NEX-5N in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-10 compared to the NEX-5N.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-10 and NEX-5N is 90 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions purely by seeing a spec sheet. The picture here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-10 and NEX-5N.

Clearly, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-10 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony NEX-5N will show more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged SZ-10 will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography information
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
73
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Street photography advice
Sony NEX-5N Street photography advice
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (215 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
80
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
supports focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography information
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography information
40
incredible zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
58
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery life (460 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography info
65
lighter than average in class (215 grams)
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
very long zoom (504mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (220 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
70
better than average battery life (460 shots)
supports focus by touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
40
quite wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
not so great battery life (220 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
71
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (460 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Vlogging camera
31
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
lighter than average in class (215 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone jack
33
touchscreen functionality
features face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
no mic support
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Sony NEX-5N
 Olympus SZ-10Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-10 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-02-08 2011-10-03
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-504mm (18.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-4.4 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.10 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 215 grams (0.47 lb) 269 grams (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 220 images 460 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B 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
Card slots One One
Price at release $300 $550