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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
69
Overall
61

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Succeeded the Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Replacement is Olympus SP-820UZ
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Announced October 2011
  • Previous Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5R
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony NEX-5N, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is fairly comparable but the SP-820UZ (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The SP-820UZ was revealed 11 months after the NEX-5N so they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief view of how the SP-820UZ grades against the NEX-5N with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Sony NEX-5N

 SP-820UZ NEX-5N 
AnnouncedAugust 2012October 2011Newer by 11 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 NEX-5N SP-820UZ 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Sony NEX-5N

 SP-820UZ NEX-5N 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SP-820UZ features external dimensions of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") along with a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony NEX-5N in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the SP-820UZ vs the NEX-5N.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-820UZ and NEX-5N is 69 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions purely by seeing technical specs. The image below might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-820UZ and NEX-5N.

As you have seen, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SP-820UZ having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony NEX-5N will provide greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics far more aggressively. The more recent SP-820UZ provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography details
34
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Street photography advice
Sony NEX-5N Street photography advice
37
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
more heavy than average (485g)
80
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
offers focus via touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5N
33
incredible zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
58
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great battery power (460 shots)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography highlights
55
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (22mm)
very long reach (896mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than average (485g)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
71
great battery power (460 CIPA)
offers focus via touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
35
fairly wide (22mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
71
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (460 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SP-820UZ
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5N
25
fairly wide (22mm)
comes with face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of external microphone socket
more heavy than average (485g)
33
screen is touchscreen
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing external microphone socket
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-820UZ and Sony NEX-5N
 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZSony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-08-21 2011-10-03
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
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 22-896mm (40.7x) -
Max aperture f/3.4-5.7 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 15.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options 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
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 180 (30, 240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 485 grams (1.07 pounds) 269 grams (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 77
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1079
Other
Battery life - 460 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $299 $550