Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.
Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.
You can learn more at our glossary entry.
Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
NEX-5N test data on DxO Mark T5 test data on DxO MarkCameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.
Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.
Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
NEX-5N test data on DxO Mark T5 test data on DxO MarkFast autofocus and prefocused shutter lag; Quieter shutter sound; Captures 10 frames per second; Supports AVCHD 2.0.
Limited first-party lens selection; Slow and confusing on-screen user interface; top-mounted, proprietary accessories are quite pricey.
Very good image quality with great color accuracy; Lightweight and compact design; Great value for the money; Canon EF-S mount provides access to a vast array of lens options; Feature Guide and Creative Auto helps new users.
Slow burst mode; Shallow buffer; Without AF assist from flash low-light AF can struggle; Dynamic range and high ISO performance not as good as some competing models; No continuous AF in movie mode; Mono sound; No external mic jack.
