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Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
51
Overall
41
Olympus XZ-1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Olympus XZ-1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 275g - 111 x 65 x 42mm
  • Launched January 2011
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5N
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Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Olympus XZ-1 versus Sony NEX-5, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the XZ-1 (10MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) and the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and NEX-5 (APS-C) posses different sensor measurements.

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The XZ-1 was brought out 8 months later than the NEX-5 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short highlight of how the XZ-1 scores versus the NEX-5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-1 over the Sony NEX-5

 XZ-1 NEX-5 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011June 2010Fresher by 8 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Olympus XZ-1

 NEX-5 XZ-1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k614kCrisper screen (+306k dot)

Common features in the Olympus XZ-1 and Sony NEX-5

 XZ-1 NEX-5 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus XZ-1 features external dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus XZ-1 versus Sony NEX-5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the XZ-1 versus the NEX-5.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XZ-1 and NEX-5 is 88 and 89 respectively.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to picture the contrast in sensor sizing merely by checking out specifications. The photograph below will offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the XZ-1 and NEX-5.

To sum up, both the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The XZ-1 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Sony NEX-5 will show extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The fresher XZ-1 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography features
45
has manual focus
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
72
manual focus
MP count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Street photography features
Sony NEX-5 Street photography features
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
more heavy than competitors (275g)
76
screen tilts
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Sports photography details
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography details
38
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking autofocus
great battery pack (320 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
megapixel count low (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
52
MP count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography advice
62
great battery pack (320 shots)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (275 grams)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
59
MP count decent (14MP)
missing Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography factors
54
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (320 CIPA)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
lack of Timelapse function
68
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
MP count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging factors
31
quite wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection autofocus
does not feature selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone port
more heavy than competitors (275 grams)
28
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing mic port
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Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-1 and Sony NEX-5
 Olympus XZ-1Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus XZ-1 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-01-26 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.63" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 8.07 x 5.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 44.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3664 x 2752 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/1.8-2.5 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 4.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 614 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology OLED -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.60 m (ISO 800) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 275g (0.61 pounds) 287g (0.63 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 65 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 34 69
DXO Color Depth rating 18.8 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.2
DXO Low light rating 117 796
Other
Battery life 320 pictures 330 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $567 $599