Olympus VH-410 vs Sony NEX-5N

In this article, we are reviewing the Olympus VH-410 versus Sony NEX-5N, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the VH-410 (16MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is fairly comparable but the VH-410 (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) possess totally different sensor size.

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The VH-410 was launched 11 months after the NEX-5N which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VH-410 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the VH-410 scores versus the NEX-5N in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus VH-410 and Sony Alpha NEX-5N. The complete galleries are available at Olympus VH-410 Gallery and Sony NEX-5N Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus VH-410 has got physical measurements of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") and a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5N has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus VH-410 versus Sony NEX-5N in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the VH-410 versus the NEX-5N.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the VH-410 and NEX-5N is 95 and 89 respectively.

In many cases, it is very hard to see the gap in sensor sizes merely by seeing specs. The image underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the VH-410 and NEX-5N.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras enjoy the same exact MP but not the same sensor sizes. The VH-410 contains the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower depth of field tougher. The fresher VH-410 will have an advantage in sensor innovation.