Olympus 9000 vs Sony NEX-5

Below, we will be contrasting the Olympus 9000 and Sony NEX-5, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the 9000 (12MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the 9000 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The 9000 was released 12 months before the NEX-5 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus 9000 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the 9000 grades versus the NEX-5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus 9000 and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus 9000 Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus 9000 has exterior dimensions of 96mm x 60mm x 31mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Compare the Olympus 9000 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 vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the 9000 versus the NEX-5.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 9000 and NEX-5 is 92 and 89 respectively.

Typically, it's hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements simply by going through a spec sheet. The visual underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the 9000 and NEX-5.

As you can see, each of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The 9000 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony NEX-5 will provide extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older 9000 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.