Olympus 1 vs Sony NEX-5R

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus 1 versus Sony NEX-5R, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the 1 (12MP) and NEX-5R (16MP) and the 1 (1/1.7") and NEX-5R (APS-C) posses different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The 1 was revealed 16 months later than the NEX-5R making them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus 1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the 1 scores vs the NEX-5R with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus 1 & Sony Alpha NEX-5R. The full galleries are provided at Olympus 1 Gallery & Sony NEX-5R Gallery.

If you are aiming to lug around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus 1 features outer measurements of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") having a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5R has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Compare the Olympus 1 versus Sony NEX-5R in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the 1 vs the NEX-5R.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the 1 and NEX-5R is 79 and 89 respectively.

Often, it is difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements simply by going over technical specs. The visual below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the 1 and NEX-5R.

As you can tell, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The 1 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony NEX-5R will offer you extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more modern 1 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.