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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-11 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Revealed July 2011
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-5N
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Sony NEX-5

 SZ-11 NEX-5 
ReleasedJuly 2011June 2010Fresher by 14 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Olympus SZ-11

 NEX-5 SZ-11 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony NEX-5

 SZ-11 NEX-5 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

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

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography details
33
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
comes with face detect focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
72
has manual focus
decent MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Street photography info
Sony NEX-5 Street photography info
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
76
screen tilts
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Sports photography camera
43
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (200 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
52
decent MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Travel photography information
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography information
65
lighter than competitors (226g)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery pack (200 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
59
decent MP (14 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-11
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5
40
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
bad battery pack (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
68
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
decent MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-11
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5
31
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focusing
lighter than competitors (226g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone jack
28
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
does not have external microphone port
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-11 and Sony NEX-5
 Olympus SZ-11Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-11 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-07-27 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 287g (0.63 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 69
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 796
Other
Battery life 200 photographs 330 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $253 $599