Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-5

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony NEX-5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-11 (14MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is very close but the SZ-11 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-11 was unveiled 14 months later than the NEX-5 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the SZ-11 grades versus the NEX-5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SZ-11 and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SZ-11 Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-11 offers physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5 has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony NEX-5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ-11 compared to the NEX-5.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-11 and NEX-5 is 89 and 89 respectively.

More often than not, its hard to see the difference in sensor sizing purely by researching specifications. The graphic here might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-11 and NEX-5.

Plainly, each of the cameras have got the exact same megapixel count but not the same sensor sizing. The SZ-11 has the smaller sensor which should make obtaining shallow DOF more difficult. The more modern SZ-11 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.