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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Announced January 2013
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
  • New Model is Sony NEX-5N
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is fairly similar but the SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-16 iHS was revealed 2 years later than the NEX-5 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summation of how the SZ-16 iHS matches up against the NEX-5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Sony NEX-5

 SZ-16 iHS NEX-5 
ReleasedJanuary 2013June 2010Fresher by 32 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 NEX-5 SZ-16 iHS 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony NEX-5

 SZ-16 iHS NEX-5 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS features external measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the SZ-16 iHS and the NEX-5.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-16 iHS and NEX-5 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to see the difference between sensor sizing just by reviewing specifications. The visual underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-16 iHS and NEX-5.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SZ-16 iHS with its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS will offer you extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The fresher SZ-16 iHS will have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography factors
35
good MP (16MP)
provides face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Street photography camera
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
76
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography info
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography info
42
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
52
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography information
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography information
65
lighter than competition (226g)
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
59
MP count good (14MP)
missing Timelapse function
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography advice
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography advice
41
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
68
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Vlogging camera
31
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
lighter than competition (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic support
28
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
missing microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony NEX-5
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSSony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sony Alpha NEX-5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-01-08 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS 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 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 226g (0.50 lb) 287g (0.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 69
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 796
Other
Battery life 220 images 330 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $230 $599