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

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!