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Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
47
Overall
40
Pentax Q front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
69
Overall
61

Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Announced June 2011
  • Refreshed by Pentax Q10
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
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-5
  • Updated by Sony NEX-5R
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Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Below is a extensive comparison of the Pentax Q and Sony NEX-5N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the Q (12MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the Q (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) offer different sensor size.

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The Q was brought out 3 months before the NEX-5N and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going right into a full comparison, here is a brief summation of how the Q scores against the NEX-5N when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Sony NEX-5N

 Q NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Pentax Q

 NEX-5N Q 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax Q and Sony NEX-5N

 Q NEX-5N 
RevealedJune 2011October 2011Same age
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax Q has exterior dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") with a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5N has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Look at the Pentax Q and Sony NEX-5N in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the Q vs the NEX-5N.

Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the Q and NEX-5N is 93 and 89 respectively.

Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor measurements merely by looking through specs. The graphic below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the Q and NEX-5N.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The Q due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony NEX-5N will provide you with greater detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs more aggressively.

Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax Q Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography factors
45
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
74
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax Q
Street photography with Sony NEX-5N
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
lighter than average (180 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
supports touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax Q Sports photography information
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography information
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports tracking autofocus
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (230 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
58
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great battery power (460 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax Q Travel photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography factors
57
lighter than average (180g)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (230 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
71
great battery power (460 per charge)
supports touch focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax Q Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography highlights
51
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax Q mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (230 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
71
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (460 shots)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax Q as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Vlogging camera
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (180g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone socket
33
has touchscreen
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
lack of microphone jack
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Pentax Q vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax Q and Sony NEX-5N
 Pentax QSony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Q Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-06-23 2011-10-03
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - 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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens support Pentax Q Sony E
Total lenses 8 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Color LCD Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/2000s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 180 gr (0.40 pounds) 269 gr (0.59 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 47 77
DXO Color Depth rating 20.2 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.1 12.7
DXO Low light rating 189 1079
Other
Battery life 230 shots 460 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI68 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
Launch price $695 $550