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Olympus SH-1 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Olympus SH-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Introduced March 2014
  • Later Model is Olympus SH-2
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Announced October 2011
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5R
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Olympus SH-1 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Olympus SH-1 vs Sony NEX-5N, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SH-1 (16MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is relatively close but the SH-1 (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The SH-1 was announced 2 years after the NEX-5N which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-1 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a quick overview of how the SH-1 grades versus the NEX-5N with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-1 over the Sony NEX-5N

 SH-1 NEX-5N 
AnnouncedMarch 2014October 2011More modern by 31 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Olympus SH-1

 NEX-5N SH-1 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-1 and Sony NEX-5N

 SH-1 NEX-5N 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SH-1 has outside measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SH-1 vs Sony NEX-5N in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the SH-1 compared to the NEX-5N.

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SH-1 and NEX-5N is 88 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizes only by researching technical specs. The picture below will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-1 and NEX-5N.

As you can tell, the two cameras have the same megapixels albeit different sensor sizes. The SH-1 comes with the smaller sensor which will make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult. The newer SH-1 provides an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-1 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Portrait photography camera
37
resolution is good (16MP)
features face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
73
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-1 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Street photography camera
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
boasts focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (271g)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
80
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
boasts touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography highlights
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery (380 shots)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
58
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (460 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Travel photography information
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography information
74
better than average battery (380 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
boasts focus via touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
70
better than average battery pack (460 per charge)
boasts touch focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography info
49
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
better than average battery (380 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
71
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (460 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging highlights
37
fairly wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone socket
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
33
touchscreen
provides face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus SH-1 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-1 and Sony NEX-5N
 Olympus Stylus SH-1Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus SH-1 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2014-03-31 2011-10-03
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-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 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 12.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 12.00 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
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 271 gr (0.60 lb) 269 gr (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 77
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1079
Other
Battery life 380 shots 460 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $349 $550