• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  •  
  • APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 16.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800

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Differences

Sony NEX-5N advantages over Pentax K-01

  • Less expensive
    $700 vs $900 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • More telephoto lens reach
    83 mm vs 61 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Thinner
    38 mm vs 58 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    465g vs 611g
    Lighter weight
  • Less shutter lag
    0.23 vs 0.80 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Wider angle kit lens
    27 mm vs 61 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    10.0 fps vs 5.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Pentax K-01 advantages over Sony NEX-5N

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

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Review Excerpt

  • Fast 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 and excellent high ISO performance. Premium build quality. In-body image stabilization. Lots of creative features. Full HD movie capture with manual exposure control.

  • Barely any smaller than a standard SLR, but lacks viewfinder and phase-detect autofocus. Contrast-detect AF is slow and unreliable. Body design is clumsy and uncomfortable. Very slow raw burst shooting.

The Competition

Compared to Sony NEX-3

Sony NEX-5N
Sony NEX-3
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
Pentax K-01
Sony NEX-3
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Sony NEX-C3

Sony NEX-5N
Sony NEX-C3
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Shoots 24p video
  • Shoots 1080p video
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
Pentax K-01
Sony NEX-C3
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Fujifilm X-Pro1

Sony NEX-5N
Fujifilm X-Pro1
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder
Pentax K-01
Fujifilm X-Pro1
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Samsung NX20

Sony NEX-5N
Samsung NX20
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
Pentax K-01
Samsung NX20
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Tiltable Screen

Compared to Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5N
Sony NEX-5R
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
Pentax K-01
Sony NEX-5R
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
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