- Conclusion Get the lowdown
- Features How they compare
- Performance Real world benchmarks
- Differences Technical showdown
- Reviews Word on the street
- Competition Others to consider
- Discussion Answers and opinions
Compare with...
- Sony NEX-5R
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200
- Nikon D600
- Nikon 1 V1
- Nikon 1 J1
Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Oct, 2011)While it looks almost identical to its predeccesor, faster focusing, less shutter lag, better video and stills, and an intuitive touchscreen interface are just some of the many improvements that have taken place under the hood, making this the best NEX camera and one of the best CSC's that we've reviewed.
Rated 73% by by DPReview (Oct, 2011)Another benefit is that in movie mode, the EVF/LCD image preview is cropped to a 16:9 format (unless you've chosen the VGA option) allowing for much more precise framing before you begin recording.
Conclusion Which is better for you?
Features Key features of the Sony NEX-5N compared to the Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v
MP16
APS-C
Rated 79% by by DPReview (Sep, 2011)This is a much easier way of choosing an object to track than using the control dial, but we would have liked to see Sony do more with the 5N's touch screen, at the very least perhaps an equivalent to the 'touch shutter' functions we've seen in recent Olympus and Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras.
15.9 MP
1/2.5"
Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Jun, 2011)The EVF itself is crisp and reasonably fluid, but very small.
megapixels
| 0 MP | 16 MP   | 20 MP |
NEX-5N by amxmanThe combination of 23.6 x 15.8mm with a 16 million pixel count beats even the Nex 7N on low light performance (maybe due to higher pixel count on the Nex 7N for same sensor size ) and even some DSLRs.
Cybershot DSC-HX100v by velero (Jul, 2011)I should have known that going from 9 megapixels on the HX1 to 16 on the HX100 was too far a leap, so now I cherish my HX1 more than ever.
sensor size
NEX-5N by DPReview (Sep, 2011)The 16.1MP sensor in the 5N is capable of capturing images that rival some of the best APS-C format DSLRs on the market, and up to ISO 6400 image quality is impressive.
Cybershot DSC-HX100v by ByrnaIt's pretty obvious even after one day, how superior it is to any other camera in this sensor size class.
body size
111 x 59 x 38 mm
122 x 87 x 93 mm
NEX-5N by zach (Jul, 2012)the camera is light-weight, easy to use, and produces AMAZING quality photos and video.
Cybershot DSC-HX100v by M.-Povoa--Marcello-Povoa (Dec, 2011)It shows how fast compact cameras are evolving, becoming pretty solid computers at the same time.
focus points
| 0 | 25 | 30 |
NEX-5N by Slept-Thru-It (Nov, 2011)Many other reviews cover the overall high points of the camera, so I'll focus on a few review elements I think need reinforcement.
Cybershot DSC-HX100v by DPReview (Oct, 2011)In Multi mode, the available focus points are arranged in a 3 x 3 grid surrounding the central portion of the frame.
Performance Real world tests of Sony NEX-5N vs Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v
battery life
460 photos
410 photos
max continuous shooting
NEX-5N by c|net (Sep, 2011)It can burst at about 3.3fps, which is sufficient for occasionally shooting kids and pets, as long as they're not moving too fast.
Cybershot DSC-HX100v by F.-Genao--Lisandro-GenaoWhich means the Panasonic will take 11 pictures in one second in burst mode and the Sony will take 10 pictures in one second in burst mode.
Differences What are the advantages of each
Advantages compared to the Cybershot DSC-HX100v
| Significantly larger sensor | APS-C | vs | 1/2.5" |
|---|---|---|---|
| More than 13x larger sensor; higher quality photos | |||
| Has a flash hot shoe | Proprietary | vs | Fewer choices in how to light your subject |
| Very few cameras have a flash hot shoe; Connect a variety of external flashes for maximum lighting flexibility | |||
| Has a touch screen | Yes | vs | No |
| Somewhat common; Fewer buttons, interact directly with menus | |||
| Interchangeable lenses | Yes | vs | No |
| Somewhat common; Use a variety of specialized lenses | |||
| Higher light sensitivity | 25,600 ISO | vs | 3,200 ISO |
| 8x higher light sensitivity; Avoid blur in low light situations | |||
| Shoots video in 24p | Yes | vs | No |
| Somewhat common; For that film look | |||
| More contrast-detection focus points | 25 | vs | 9 |
| 16 more contrast detection focus points; Better autofocus in low light settings | |||
| Self cleaning sensor | Yes | vs | No |
| Somewhat common; Prevents dust showing up in your photos | |||
| Marginally more recently announced | Aug, 2011 | vs | Feb, 2011 |
| Announced date 6 months later | |||
| Significantly thinner | 38 mm | vs | 93 mm |
| 2.4x thinner | |||
| Significantly smaller | 111 x 59 x 38 mm | vs | 122 x 87 x 93 mm |
| 4x smaller | |||
| Significantly lighter | 269 g | vs | 577 g |
| 2.1x lighter | |||
Advantages compared to the NEX-5N
| Image stabilization | Optical | vs | None |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supports image stabilization | |||
| Has a viewfinder | Gives you more flexibility when framing your shot | vs | Allows for less stability when taking a photo |
| Very few cameras have a viewfinder; Avoids glare in bright sunlight | |||
| Has a built-in flash | Built in flash | vs | None |
| Most cameras have a built-in flash; Take photos in low-light with no extra gear | |||
| Includes a GPS | Yes | vs | No |
| Somewhat common; Records the location of your photos automatically | |||
Reviews Word on the street
Sony NEX-5N | Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v | ||
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| 
| |
|---|---|---|---|
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 | Rated by 234 users at amazon.com Rated 80% by by JR (Dec, 2011) Rated 80% by by Cosmonaut (Oct, 2011) | Rated by 160 users at amazon.com Rated 60% by by Oldanalyst (Nov, 2011) Rated 100% by by warlock234 (Jul, 2011) | |
Competition What else you should consider
 | 1 | Sony NEX-5R 2-way tie: Has a touch screen |
 | 2 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Most detailed video recording mode |
 | 3 | Nikon D600 Largest sensor |
 | 4 | Nikon 1 V1 2-way tie: Fastest rapid fire mode |
 | 5 | Nikon 1 J1 OK delay taking photos |
 | 6 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V Rated the best by consumers |
 | 8 | Canon PowerShot G1X 2-way tie: Long long exposure |
Popular Questions
April 27, 2012
PERSONAL TRAVEL RELATED SNAPS & MOVIES
I AM NOT AN EXPERT PHOTOGRAPHER - SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN A BEGINNER - USED TO NON-SLR DIGITAL CAMERAS ONLY
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1
Answers Sony NEX-5N
Brenden-Sherratt 
Expert I
The Sony NEX-5N is the better camera, but it also doesn't come with a built in flash, which some people find a turn off. You can get a few different lenses if you wish which will give you a good... View Brenden-Sherratt's recommendation
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- April 27, 2012
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