Nikon P1000 vs Sony NEX-5

The Nikon Coolpix P1000 and the Sony Alpha NEX-5 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in July 2018 and May 2010. The P1000 is a fixed lens compact, while the NEX-5 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a 1/2.3-inch (P1000) and an APS-C (NEX-5) sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 14 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Nikon P1000		Sony NEX-5
Fixed lens compact camera		Mirrorless system camera
24-3000mm f/2.8-8.0		Sony E mount lenses
15.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor		14 MP – APS-C sensor
4K/30p Video		1080/60i Video
ISO 100-6,400		ISO 200-12,800
Electronic viewfinder (2359k dots)		Viewfinder optional
3.2" LCD – 921k dots		3.0" LCD – 920k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)		Tilting screen (no touchscreen)
7 shutter flaps per second		7 shutter flaps per second
250 shots per battery charge		330 shots per battery charge
146 x 119 x 181 mm, 1415 g		111 x 59 x 38 mm, 287 g

Check P1000 price at
amazon.com
Check NEX-5 offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon Coolpix P1000 and the Sony Alpha NEX-5? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Nikon P1000 and the Sony NEX-5 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The NEX-5 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the P1000 is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony NEX-5 is considerably smaller (62 percent) than the Nikon P1000. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the P1000 nor the NEX-5 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the P1000 has a lens built in, whereas the NEX-5 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the NEX-5 and their specifications in the Sony E-Mount Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the P1000 gets 250 shots out of its Nikon EN-EL20a battery, while the NEX-5 can take 330 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-FW50 power pack. The power pack in the P1000 can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Nikon P1000	146 mm	119 mm	181 mm	1415 g	250	n	Jul 2018	US$ 999	amazon.com
2.		Sony NEX-5	111 mm	59 mm	38 mm	287 g	330	n	May 2010	US$ 699	ebay.com
3.		Leica D-LUX 7	115 mm	66 mm	65 mm	392 g	300	n	Nov 2018	US$ 1 195	ebay.com
4.		Leica V-LUX 2	124 mm	80 mm	95 mm	520 g	410	n	Sep 2010	US$ 849	ebay.com
5.		Nikon A1000	114 mm	72 mm	41 mm	330 g	250	n	Jan 2019	US$ 429	ebay.com
6.		Nikon B600	122 mm	82 mm	99 mm	500 g	280	n	Jan 2019	US$ 349	ebay.com
7.		Nikon P900	140 mm	103 mm	137 mm	899 g	360	n	Mar 2015	US$ 599	ebay.com
8.		Nikon P1100	146 mm	119 mm	181 mm	1410 g	250	n	Feb 2025	US$ 1 099	amazon.com
9.		Panasonic LX100 II	115 mm	66 mm	65 mm	392 g	300	n	Aug 2018	US$ 999	ebay.com
10.		Sony HX95	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	242 g	370	n	Aug 2018	US$ 429	ebay.com
11.		Sony HX99	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	242 g	370	n	Aug 2018	US$ 449	ebay.com
12.		Sony NEX-3	117 mm	62 mm	33 mm	297 g	330	n	May 2010	US$ 599	ebay.com
13.		Sony NEX-5N	111 mm	59 mm	38 mm	269 g	460	n	Aug 2011	US$ 699	ebay.com
14.		Sony NEX-5R	111 mm	59 mm	39 mm	276 g	330	n	Aug 2012	US$ 749	ebay.com
15.		Sony NEX-C3	110 mm	60 mm	33 mm	225 g	400	n	Jun 2011	US$ 599	ebay.com
16.		Sony NEX-F3	117 mm	67 mm	42 mm	314 g	470	n	May 2012	US$ 599	ebay.com
17.		Sony WX800	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	233 g	370	n	Oct 2018	US$ 399	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Nikon P1000 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Sony NEX-5 an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the NEX-5 is 1204 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 1.5. The sensor in the P1000 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the NEX-5 offers a 3:2 aspect.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the Nikon P1000 offers a higher resolution of 15.9 megapixels, compared with 14 MP of the Sony NEX-5. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.33μm versus 5.11μm for the NEX-5). However, it should be noted that the P1000 is much more recent (by 8 years and 2 months) than the NEX-5, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the P1000 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The Nikon Coolpix P1000 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha NEX-5 are ISO 200 to ISO 12800 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the P1000 is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the NEX-5 uses a CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Nikon P1000	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	20.6	12.1	1044	51
2.		Sony NEX-5	APS-C	14.0	4592	3056	1080/60i	22.2	12.2	796	69
3.		Leica D-LUX 7	Four Thirds	16.8	4736	3552	4K/30p	22.9	12.8	1002	72
4.		Leica V-LUX 2	1/2.3	14.0	4320	3240	1080/60i	19.4	10.7	321	39
5.		Nikon A1000	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	20.7	12.2	1095	52
6.		Nikon B600	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	20.7	12.2	1095	52
7.		Nikon P900	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.2	11.6	727	47
8.		Nikon P1100	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	20.9	12.9	1694	54
9.		Panasonic LX100 II	Four Thirds	16.8	4736	3552	4K/30p	22.8	12.7	979	72
10.		Sony HX95	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	20.6	12.1	1057	51
11.		Sony HX99	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	20.6	12.1	1058	51
12.		Sony NEX-3	APS-C	14.0	4592	3056	720/30p	22.1	12.0	830	68
13.		Sony NEX-5N	APS-C	16.0	4912	3264	1080/60i	23.6	12.7	1079	77
14.		Sony NEX-5R	APS-C	16.0	4912	3264	1080/60i	23.7	13.1	910	78
15.		Sony NEX-C3	APS-C	16.0	4912	3264	720/30p	22.7	12.2	1083	73
16.		Sony NEX-F3	APS-C	16.0	4912	3264	1080/60i	22.7	12.3	1114	73
17.		Sony WX800	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	20.6	12.2	1070	51
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the P1000 provides a higher video resolution than the NEX-5. It can shoot video footage at 4K/30p, while the Sony is limited to 1080/60i.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the P1000 has an electronic viewfinder (2359k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the NEX-5 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the NEX-5 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the FDA-SV1. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Nikon P1000 and Sony NEX-5 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Nikon P1000	2359	n	3.2 / 921	swivel	n	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
2.		Sony NEX-5	optional	n	3.0 / 920	tilting	n	1/4000s	7.0/s	n	n
3.		Leica D-LUX 7	2764	n	3.0 / 1240	fixed	Y	1/4000s	11.0/s	n	Y
4.		Leica V-LUX 2	202	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	n	1/2000s	11.0/s	Y	Y
5.		Nikon A1000	1166	n	3.0 / 1036	tilting	Y	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
6.		Nikon B600	none	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	7.4/s	Y	Y
7.		Nikon P900	921	n	3.0 / 921	swivel	n	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
8.		Nikon P1100	2359	n	3.2 / 921	swivel	n	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
9.		Panasonic LX100 II	2764	n	3.0 / 1240	fixed	Y	1/4000s	11.0/s	n	Y
10.		Sony HX95	638	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
11.		Sony HX99	638	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
12.		Sony NEX-3	optional	n	3.0 / 920	tilting	n	1/4000s	7.0/s	n	n
13.		Sony NEX-5N	optional	n	3.0 / 920	tilting	Y	1/4000s	10.0/s	n	n
14.		Sony NEX-5R	optional	n	3.0 / 920	tilting	Y	1/4000s	10.0/s	n	n
15.		Sony NEX-C3	optional	n	3.0 / 920	tilting	n	1/4000s	5.5/s	n	n
16.		Sony NEX-F3	optional	n	3.0 / 920	tilting	n	1/4000s	5.5/s	Y	n
17.		Sony WX800	none	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The P1000 has one, while the NEX-5 does not. While the built-in flash of the P1000 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The Nikon P1000 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The P1000 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the NEX-5 uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The P1000 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the NEX-5 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon Coolpix P1000 and Sony Alpha NEX-5 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Nikon P1000	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
2.		Sony NEX-5	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Leica D-LUX 7	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
4.		Leica V-LUX 2	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Nikon A1000	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
6.		Nikon B600	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
7.		Nikon P900	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
8.		Nikon P1100	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
9.		Panasonic LX100 II	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
10.		Sony HX95	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
11.		Sony HX99	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
12.		Sony NEX-3	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Sony NEX-5N	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Sony NEX-5R	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
15.		Sony NEX-C3	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Sony NEX-F3	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Sony WX800	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the P1000 has a microphone port, which is missing on the NEX-5. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

The P1000 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Nikon. In contrast, the NEX-5 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the NEX-5 was succeeded by the Sony NEX-5N. Further information on the features and operation of the P1000 and NEX-5 can be found, respectively, in the Nikon P1000 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony NEX-5 Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Nikon P1000 better than the Sony NEX-5 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Advantages of the Nikon Coolpix P1000:

• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60i).
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Ready to shoot: Has a lens built-in, whereas the NEX-5 requires a separate lens.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More modern: Reflects 8 years and 2 months of technical progress since the NEX-5 launch.

Arguments in favor of the Sony Alpha NEX-5:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• More flexible: Takes interchangeable lenses and can thus be used with specialty optics.
• More compact: Is smaller (111x59mm vs 146x119mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (330 versus 250) out of a single battery charge.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in May 2010).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the P1000 is the clear winner of the match-up (15 : 9 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon P1000 and the Sony NEX-5 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the P1000 and the NEX-5 in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Nikon P1000	..	+	3.5/5	73/100	3.5/5	3.5/5	Jul 2018	US$ 999	amazon.com
2.		Sony NEX-5	3/5	+ +	..	71/100	4.5/5	4/5	May 2010	US$ 699	ebay.com
3.		Leica D-LUX 7	..	..	..	..	..	4.5/5	Nov 2018	US$ 1 195	ebay.com
4.		Leica V-LUX 2	..	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2010	US$ 849	ebay.com
5.		Nikon A1000	..	+ +	3.5/5	..	3.5/5	3/5	Jan 2019	US$ 429	ebay.com
6.		Nikon B600	..	+	..	..	3.5/5	3/5	Jan 2019	US$ 349	ebay.com
7.		Nikon P900	..	..	..	77/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2015	US$ 599	ebay.com
8.		Nikon P1100	..	..	..	..	..	..	Feb 2025	US$ 1 099	amazon.com
9.		Panasonic LX100 II	4.5/5	+	4.2/5	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2018	US$ 999	ebay.com
10.		Sony HX95	..	..	..	..	..	..	Aug 2018	US$ 429	ebay.com
11.		Sony HX99	..	..	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2018	US$ 449	ebay.com
12.		Sony NEX-3	..	..	..	70/100	4.5/5	4/5	May 2010	US$ 599	ebay.com
13.		Sony NEX-5N	3/5	+ +	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2011	US$ 699	ebay.com
14.		Sony NEX-5R	..	..	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2012	US$ 749	ebay.com
15.		Sony NEX-C3	3/5	+ +	..	74/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2011	US$ 599	ebay.com
16.		Sony NEX-F3	4/5	..	..	74/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	May 2012	US$ 599	ebay.com
17.		Sony WX800	..	..	..	..	..	..	Oct 2018	US$ 399	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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