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Sony NEX-5 vs NEX-5N ISO/Image Quality Test

A

Alowisney

TalkEmount Regular
Joined
Sep 1, 2011
Messages
49
Location
Macon, GA USA
I wanted to see the difference in the ISO capabilities and image quality of the NEX-5 and NEX-5N, so I set up a tripod and shot a series of shots from each in RAW+JPEG to see the differences. I chose a scene in my house to show color reproduction and detail that also had some straight lines to also show distortion from the 18-55mm kit lens. I used Program mode and just adjusted the ISO. I left the lens at 18mm for each shot.

First, is the NEX-5's Auto JPEG. I corrected for lens distortion in Lightroom. The NEX-5 chose ISO 800, 1/30 at f/3.5.



<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3JxJIcWoYx2sF-3DERkqb8dh7aXIxzeWTeLGHQ_cEfk?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"533" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5Test?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiB2Km6obWfEA&feat=embedwebsite">5 test</a></td></tr></table>

Here's the 5N's Auto JPEG. I didn't have to correct anything since the 5N has built in distortion correction on JPEGs. The 5N chose ISO 2000, 1/60 at f/4.0.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/RstDZnvlWHn5Fj46ohjCkAcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>



Just to show the barrel distortion, here's the auto JPEG from the 5 without lens correction.



<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/C6d-exJ_fl0-yOLTV_5yKMdh7aXIxzeWTeLGHQ_cEfk?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"533" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5Test?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiB2Km6obWfEA&feat=embedwebsite">5 test</a></td></tr></table>

I did the lens correction for the remaining shots.

Here's the 5's Auto shot in RAW.



<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/i6evBR7LK8d3H8ovGF_mj8dh7aXIxzeWTeLGHQ_cEfk?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"533" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5Test?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiB2Km6obWfEA&feat=embedwebsite">5 test</a></td></tr></table>

Here's the 5N's Auto shot in RAW.



<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Eu8iskaSnEPhPKze6DAM4QcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 100 JPEG from 5N. The 5's ISO sensitivity starts at 200, so nothing to compare here, but I just wanted to include it.



<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XHHEMJqcmj-dSXyXSjKEbgcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 100 RAW from the 5N.



<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Xq0o-gMhV0UKtXrKC7tU6wcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>





ISO 200 JPEG from the 5.



<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/q8RrSr24sw3U5DBdQnwA08dh7aXIxzeWTeLGHQ_cEfk?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"533" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5Test?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiB2Km6obWfEA&feat=embedwebsite">5 test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 200 JPEG from the 5N.



<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FTFnaea4zxbOWTRnFzTxuAcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 200 RAW from the 5.



<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/SSWxOqyiW4ry3zluTbU4fMdh7aXIxzeWTeLGHQ_cEfk?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"533" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5Test?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiB2Km6obWfEA&feat=embedwebsite">5 test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 200 RAW from the 5N.



<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sL2ITsAvDxKnFBewbTw5pgcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 400 JPEG from the 5.



<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MTdReeuwqb45qv7Ilb6tr8dh7aXIxzeWTeLGHQ_cEfk?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"533" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5Test?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiB2Km6obWfEA&feat=embedwebsite">5 test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 400 JPEG from the 5N.



<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DX1yaEzj5MFTktG2KyI0bgcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 400 RAW from the 5.



<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jjODDebkcxaLhuczKdOADsdh7aXIxzeWTeLGHQ_cEfk?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"533" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5Test?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiB2Km6obWfEA&feat=embedwebsite">5 test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 400 RAW from the 5N.



<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZJ3Hdr8TSGs2bcGnmuNW3QcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 800 JPEG from the 5.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BCugNO-1fpvAbHZvsxYgnMdh7aXIxzeWTeLGHQ_cEfk?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"533" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5Test?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiB2Km6obWfEA&feat=embedwebsite">5 test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 800 JPEG from the 5N.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ba18SOEfrOfZ0rMWaSWX8QcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 800 RAW from the 5.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HI7yMcCgT1bFrRqg10BvU8dh7aXIxzeWTeLGHQ_cEfk?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"533" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5Test?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiB2Km6obWfEA&feat=embedwebsite">5 test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 800 RAW from the 5N.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fIt1FuqGv6QgNR9u7ox77gcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 1600 JPEG from the 5.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gT-cAULBuJ0gXxatIkKfGsdh7aXIxzeWTeLGHQ_cEfk?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"533" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5Test?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiB2Km6obWfEA&feat=embedwebsite">5 test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 1600 JPEG from the 5N.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fKjGzt310KK9QiR65RzELQcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 1600 RAW from the 5.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Se4iKHQYiVwNeSgpQeRnxMdh7aXIxzeWTeLGHQ_cEfk?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"533" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5Test?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiB2Km6obWfEA&feat=embedwebsite">5 test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 1600 RAW from the 5N.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7WYWPTL0qhfBmLMlBgO9cwcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 3200 JPEG from the 5.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KIwkwvhwa_nOpbK5sUUxecdh7aXIxzeWTeLGHQ_cEfk?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"533" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5Test?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiB2Km6obWfEA&feat=embedwebsite">5 test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 3200 JPEG from the 5N.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/p7_RkKCAF-CRoiG9HamfbgcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 3200 RAW from the 5.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uVwX_xnfYaQnNND-Jfq9oMdh7aXIxzeWTeLGHQ_cEfk?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"533" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5Test?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiB2Km6obWfEA&feat=embedwebsite">5 test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 3200 RAW from the 5N.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YKB5W88kjL7g3FzWD6HzqQcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 6400 JPEG from the 5.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bei4sQbnm7VjKLneetS5wMdh7aXIxzeWTeLGHQ_cEfk?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"533" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5Test?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiB2Km6obWfEA&feat=embedwebsite">5 test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 6400 JPEG from the 5N.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8M7tuQTC0mShBDBooSgOdwcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 6400 RAW from the 5.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/90RLiaK_hhE-2lE7joft38dh7aXIxzeWTeLGHQ_cEfk?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"533" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5Test?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiB2Km6obWfEA&feat=embedwebsite">5 test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 6400 RAW from the 5N.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9JYuPhJoGYy7dxbh8PiAGQcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 12800 JPEG from the 5.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9WERTmlbqlfUj6Cp87C0nsdh7aXIxzeWTeLGHQ_cEfk?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"533" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5Test?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiB2Km6obWfEA&feat=embedwebsite">5 test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 12800 JPEG from the 5N.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/L_M3usA_Abrs1B0XUtlhLwcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 12800 RAW from the 5.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/p6cb9A18l6EXqnR7_OIU38dh7aXIxzeWTeLGHQ_cEfk?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"533" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5Test?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiB2Km6obWfEA&feat=embedwebsite">5 test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 12800 RAW from the 5N.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zFtyrM31NlRZAFq6yAXAVgcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>

That's where the 5's ISO sensitivity tops out. The 5N continues though.

ISO 25600 JPEG from the 5N.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Cxvr5PkVIIdx15IjXY4vqAcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>

ISO 25600 RAW from the 5N.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3xPgJysn-wwlCyiojkVRVgcVd9qjgc-ntfwRZODbLSA?feat=embedwebsite">
   ---            
"532" width="800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/brian.allen.godfrey/5nTest?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnQl7-yo6nufA&feat=embedwebsite">5n test</a></td></tr></table>

I hope this is helpful to someone!

I just want to take this opportunity to thank Amin Sabet for the NEX-5N giveaway that allowed me to have the NEX-5N. I really love the camera and the community of these forums!
 
Phoenix

Phoenix

TalkEmount Top Veteran
Joined
Aug 25, 2011
Messages
859
Location
Melbourne, Australia
Real Name
Phoenix Gonzales
Great comparison Alowisney, This will come really handy for users who are planning to upgrade from the NEX-5 to the 5N.
 
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